Aviation News Item: 09169

1st Jun 2010

Source: ubmaviationnews.com

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into a near mid-air collision between an US Airways A319 and a Cargolux 747-400 in Anchorage, Alaska, on May 21. The two aircraft came within an estimated 100ft vertically and a 0.33 mile lateral separation after the 747 had taken off from Anchorage International Airport's (ANC) runway 25R and the A319 was executing a go-around following a missed approach on ANC's runway 14. The incident occurred in night visual meteorological conditions with 10 miles visibility.

When the A319 crew decided to go around, the tower controller instructed them to turn right heading 300 and report the departing 747 in sight. After they reported the 747 in sight, the controller instructed them to maintain visual separation, climb to 3000 feet, and turn right heading 320. The A319 crew refused the right turn because it would have put their flight in direct conflict with the 747. The A319 crew then received a resolution advisory to "monitor vertical speed" and the crew complied with the descent command. During the descent, the A319 crew lost sight of the 747. At about 1,700ft above ground level, the A319 crew received a "clear of conflict" aural command.

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