Air transportation safety investigation A13H0003

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 16 July 2015.

Table of contents

    Runway incursion and risk of collision
    NAV CANADA
    Ottawa Control Tower
    Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
    Ottawa, Ontario

    View final report

    The occurrence

    On 01 December 2013, at 1916 Eastern Standard Time, during the hours of darkness, a Piaggio P-180 (registration C-GFOX, serial number 1065), with 2 crew on board, was authorized to taxi across Runway 14 on its way to Runway 07 at the Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, Ontario. Shortly thereafter, a second aircraft, a de Havilland DHC-8-311 (registration C-GEWQ, serial number 202) operating as Jazz (JZA) 988, a scheduled passenger flight to Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Quebec, with 3 crew and 15 passengers on board, was taxiing from the de icing pad to Runway 14 for takeoff. At 1919, JZA988 was cleared for departure and began its take-off roll. At 1920, C-GFOX crossed Runway 14, approximately 4400 feet in front of JZA988. Neither aircraft was aware of the runway incursion and continued their flight without further incident.

    Media materials

    News release

    2015-07-16

    Procedural deficiencies led to December 2013 runway incursion at the Ottawa/MacDonald-Cartier International Airport
    Read the news release

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    A13H0003

    Runway incursion and risk of collision
    NAV CANADA
    Ottawa Control Tower
    Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Investigator-in-charge

    Lothar Hopp completed his education with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1972. Mr. Hopp was commissioned in the Canadian Forces in 1972, and qualified as an air traffic controller shortly thereafter.

    On retirement from the Air Force in 1996, Mr. Hopp joined the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) as Senior Investigator/ATS Specialist. Over the past 17 years, Mr. Hopp has conducted numerous investigations throughout Canada as Investigator in Charge (IIC) and was ATS/Airports group chairman on three major accident investigations.

      Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

    Class of investigation

    This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

    TSB investigation process

    There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
    3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

    For more information, see our Investigation process page.

    The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.