ATC transcripts revealed that overlapping radio communications may have contributed to a near-collision incident between a Cessna Citation XLS+ and a Boeing 737.
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Transcripts of ATC tapes reported by the Aviation Safety Network revealed that overlapping radio communications between the tower and aircraft may have contributed to a near-collision incident between a Cessna Citation XLS+ and a Southwest Boeing 737 at San Diego International Airport (KSAN) on August 11. The pertinent communications started at about 12:05 p.m.
According to the transcript, the tower controller cleared the Citation to land on Runway 27, which the crew acknowledged. The controller then told the Southwest crew to line up and wait on the same runway, which that crew also acknowledged. With spacing diminishing, the Citation attempted to ask the tower to verify the landing clearance, but at the same time the tower started transmitting to a Beech Baron—on the ground waiting to depart—about an amendment to its clearance.
Then the controller began a transmission to instruct the Citation to go around, while at the same moment, the Citation was trying to ask the tower to verify that they were still cleared to land. After a short back-and-forth, the controller said, “Citation Four Victor Hotel, go around, fly the published missed approach,” which the Citation crew acknowledged—despite the controller using an incorrect callsign.
The tower controller directed the 737 to exit the runway and, when asked why by the Southwest crew, the controller said, “There’s traffic on a two-mile final behind you.”
It’s been estimated that, during the go-around, the Citation overflew the 737 by about 100 feet. This incident is being investigated by the NTSB.
Blocked Comm Eyed in B737-Citation XLS+ Near Collision
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Transcripts of ATC tapes reported by the Aviation Safety Network revealed that overlapping radio communications between the tower and aircraft may have contributed to a near collision between a Cessna Citation XLS+ and a Southwest Boeing 737 at San Diego International Airport (KSAN) on August 11.
According to the transcript, the tower controller cleared the Citation to land on Runway 27, which the crew acknowledged. The controller then told the Southwest crew to line up and wait on the same runway, which that crew also acknowledged. With spacing diminishing, the Citation attempted to ask the tower to verify the landing clearance, but at the same time the tower started transmitting to a Beech Baron—on the ground waiting to depart—about an amendment to its clearance.
After that exchange, the controller began a transmission to instruct the Citation to go around at the same moment the Citation was trying to ask the tower to verify that they were still cleared to land. Then, the tower said, “Citation Four Victor Hotel, go around, fly the published missed approach,” which the Citation crew acknowledged—despite the controller using an incorrect callsign.
The tower controller then directed the 737 to exit the runway. During the go-around, the Citation overflew the 737 by about 100 feet. This incident is being investigated by the NTSB.