Description

On 29 August 2006, a DHC-6 being operated by Loganair on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Campbeltown to Glasgow which had just landed on runway 27 commenced a daylight backtrack in normal ground visibility towards the terminal and after stopping at the holding point prior to the intersection with the main active runway 23 for a short period then began taxiing again as a British Regional Airlines Embraer ERJ145 was about to touch down, only stopping and powering backwards and clear at a late stage.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the UK Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (UK) (AAIB). It was established that the DHC6 had been cleared by ATC to continue the back track beyond holding point Y1 and across runway 23 only after the landing aircraft had passed the intersection. It was reported by the aircraft commander of the DHC6, who had been taxiing the aircraft, that having stopped as cleared, he had initiated a ‘heads down’ discussion on tat Y1 raining issues with his First Officer. On completing this, he had assumed that the landing aircraft had passed and resumed taxiing until, as the aircraft was about to enter the runway, he caught sight of the other aircraft about to touch down. He had immediately reversed the aircraft back towards the holding point.

It was found that although the other aircraft had seen the DHC6 shortly before touchdown, it had appeared to be stationary and so they had no cause for concern.