TWA Flight 427
Encyclopedia
TWA
Flight 427, registration N954U, was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 departing Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
in Bridgeton
, Missouri
for Stapleton International Airport
in Denver, Colorado
on November 22, 1994. On the takeoff roll it struck a Cessna 441
, registration N441KM, killing both of its occupants.
The Cessna had been cleared by ground control to back-taxi on runway 31 to the end and wait for takeoff clearance. For reasons unknown it continued beyond this point on taxiway R to runway 30R and held in position there. TWA Flight 427 was cleared by ground control to taxi to runway 30R by crossing runway 30L then down taxiway P to the end. After receiving permission to takeoff the copilot initiated the takeoff roll. When the Captain called 80 knots an off-duty crewmember in the jumpseat yelled, "There's an airplane!" Braking was immediately initiated and the Captain attempted to use the rudder to go around the Cessna to the left. The jet struck the Cessna on their right side, shearing off the top of the small plane. The pilot and passenger on the small plane were instantly killed. The Captain immediately asked for safety equipment, and passenger evacuation was initiated, resulting in eight minor injuries. Aircraft continued to land on runway 30L and taxi nearby during passenger evacuation. The TWA Captain of Flt 427 was Rick Carr, the First Officer was Randy Speed, and the ACM was Randy Richardson.
The resulting NTSB
investigation determined that the Cessna had recently flown in from Iron Mountain
, Michigan
. They had landed on runway 30R and dropped off a passenger before preparing for the return flight. A commercial-rated pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, married to an employee of Superior Aviation, were on board as it left the ramp. The ATIS
information broadcast to all pilots advised runways 30L and 30R were in use for arrivals and departures. Although runway 31 was routinely used in these conditions for General Aviation aircraft, this information was not included on the hourly ATIS broadcast.
The board concluded that from the actions of the Cessna pilot he may have believed 30R was the assigned runway for his departure. TWA Flight 427 was cleared for takeoff while the Cessna was likely still on the ground frequency. The Cessna pilot requested permission to take off, "Kilo Mike ready to go from the right side." The tower advised they could not clear him to take off simultaneous with departing traffic on the right immediately before the Cessna was struck by TWA Flight 427.
The Board recommended ground radar be installed at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Further that pilots should be required to read back runway assignments and controllers verify readback. A previous recommendation that airports should immediately close following any incident until the situation has been assessed was also included.
As of 2008 runway 13/31 has been converted into taxiway F. Taxiway R has been renamed to taxiway J and taxiway P is now taxiway E.
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
Flight 427, registration N954U, was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 departing Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a Class B international airport serving Greater St. Louis. It is located approximately northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state with 250 daily...
in Bridgeton
Bridgeton, Missouri
Bridgeton is a city in northwestern St. Louis County, Missouri, serving as a suburb and transport hub within Greater St. Louis. The population at the 2010 census was 11,550. Portions of Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport are within Bridgeton.-Location:...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
for Stapleton International Airport
Stapleton International Airport
Stapleton International Airport was Denver, Colorado's primary airport from 1929 to 1995. At different times it served as a hub for TWA, People Express, Frontier Airlines and Western Airlines as well as a hub for Continental Airlines and United Airlines at the time of its closure.In 1995 Stapleton...
in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
on November 22, 1994. On the takeoff roll it struck a Cessna 441
Cessna 441
-See also:-External links:* *...
, registration N441KM, killing both of its occupants.
The Cessna had been cleared by ground control to back-taxi on runway 31 to the end and wait for takeoff clearance. For reasons unknown it continued beyond this point on taxiway R to runway 30R and held in position there. TWA Flight 427 was cleared by ground control to taxi to runway 30R by crossing runway 30L then down taxiway P to the end. After receiving permission to takeoff the copilot initiated the takeoff roll. When the Captain called 80 knots an off-duty crewmember in the jumpseat yelled, "There's an airplane!" Braking was immediately initiated and the Captain attempted to use the rudder to go around the Cessna to the left. The jet struck the Cessna on their right side, shearing off the top of the small plane. The pilot and passenger on the small plane were instantly killed. The Captain immediately asked for safety equipment, and passenger evacuation was initiated, resulting in eight minor injuries. Aircraft continued to land on runway 30L and taxi nearby during passenger evacuation. The TWA Captain of Flt 427 was Rick Carr, the First Officer was Randy Speed, and the ACM was Randy Richardson.
The resulting NTSB
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
investigation determined that the Cessna had recently flown in from Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain
-United States:Communities* Iron Mountain, Shasta County, California* Iron Mountain, Michigan, a city* Iron Mountain, Missouri, a community and historic mining area in St...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. They had landed on runway 30R and dropped off a passenger before preparing for the return flight. A commercial-rated pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, married to an employee of Superior Aviation, were on board as it left the ramp. The ATIS
Automatic Terminal Information Service
Automatic Terminal Information Service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded noncontrol information in busier terminal areas. ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as weather information, which runways are active, available approaches, and any other information required by...
information broadcast to all pilots advised runways 30L and 30R were in use for arrivals and departures. Although runway 31 was routinely used in these conditions for General Aviation aircraft, this information was not included on the hourly ATIS broadcast.
The board concluded that from the actions of the Cessna pilot he may have believed 30R was the assigned runway for his departure. TWA Flight 427 was cleared for takeoff while the Cessna was likely still on the ground frequency. The Cessna pilot requested permission to take off, "Kilo Mike ready to go from the right side." The tower advised they could not clear him to take off simultaneous with departing traffic on the right immediately before the Cessna was struck by TWA Flight 427.
The Board recommended ground radar be installed at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Further that pilots should be required to read back runway assignments and controllers verify readback. A previous recommendation that airports should immediately close following any incident until the situation has been assessed was also included.
As of 2008 runway 13/31 has been converted into taxiway F. Taxiway R has been renamed to taxiway J and taxiway P is now taxiway E.