Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 11 January 2006
Aircraft Type: Canadair CRJ-200ER
Owner/operator: Air Nostrum
Registration Number: EC-JEN
Location: Valencia Airport (VLC/LEVC) – ÿ Spain
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: The Alitalia aircraft’s EC-JEN aircraft, specifically the aircraft’s signage and its position relative to the runway.The Alitalia aircraft’s EC-JEN aircraft, specifically the aircraft’s signage and its position relative to the runway.
Investigating Agency: CIAIACCIAIAC
Category: Accident
An Alitalia aircraft, AZ085, took off for Milan, resulting in a collision with a Valencia Airport signal car. The signal car, which was stopped at the H1 holding point of runway 30, struck the right wing of the aircraft. The Alitalia aircraft reported a possible loss of an object during takeoff and requested a runway check. The controller, recognizing the potential hazard, immediately initiated a check of runway 12/30. The signalman, moving from the base house to H1, accessed the runway from the car’s position, leading to the accident. The collision occurred at the waiting point, and the cause is currently under investigation.An Alitalia aircraft, AZ085, took off for Milan, resulting in a collision with a Valencia Airport signal car. The signal car, which was stopped at the H1 holding point of runway 30, struck the right wing of the aircraft. The Alitalia aircraft reported a possible loss of an object during takeoff and requested a runway check. The controller, recognizing the potential hazard, immediately initiated a check of runway 12/30. The signalman, moving from the base house to H1, accessed the runway from the car’s position, leading to the accident. The collision occurred at the waiting point, and the cause is currently under investigation.

Description

Air Nostrum flight ANS8831, a CRJ-200ER, was struck by a Valencia Airport signal car. The car collided with the right wing of the aircraft, which was stopped at the H1 holding point of runway 30. In the preceding minutes, an Alitalia aircraft, with call sign AZ085, had taken off for Milan. After takeoff, IB1343 was cleared to enter runway 30 and ANS8831 was cleared to taxi to the H1 holding point vacated by IB1343. The Alitalia aircraft radioed, two minutes before the accident, to report a possible loss of an object during takeoff, advising a runway check. The controller called the signalman for an check of runway 12/30. The signalman moved with the car from the base house, along taxiway A to H1 to access the runway from there, and the accident occurred at this waiting point. Causes It is considered that the collision of the signaling service vehicle with the EC-JEN aircraft, which was stopped at the H1 holding point, occurred because the signaller was not aware of the presence of the aircraft. The signaling car had been authorized by the Valencia Airport aerodrome control service to access the H1 holding point without having been informed of the presence of the EC-JEN aircraft, which in turn had been authorized to taxi to the same point minutes earlier. Possible influencing factors in the accident are considered to be: – Glare effect exerted by the road running to the left and converging with taxiway A when, in night light conditions, taxiing from the north apron to standby point H1. – Aircraft logo lights off, limiting visibility to the rear, especially in areas close to the runway. – Incorrect execution of runway inspection procedures. – Excessive speed of the signaling vehicle in the movement area. – Movement of the signaling vehicle along the edge of the taxiway. – Decreased visibility of the accident area from the control tower due to light conditions and the presence of trees. – Decreased attention in both controller and signalman due to: * A low workload environment, with perceived absence of threats and no demanding demands due to the high degree of experience on the job, and. * Work shifts that disrupt daytime cycles of activity.

Primary Cause

Lack of awareness of the presence of the Alitalia aircraft by the signalman during the critical phase of runway access.Lack of awareness of the presence of the Alitalia aircraft by the signalman during the critical phase of runway access.

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