Airline Safety Incident; How to get info?

[Cocitus23]

On Friday 13 July I was a passenger on AA887 (Qantas code share QF4469), from Dallas (DFW) to Vancouver (YVR), on a 737-800. The aircraft pulled back from the terminal on schedule, taxied to the end of the runway, then accelerated for take-off. We were well down the runway and somewhere near take-off speed, when the pilot suddenly aborted take-off, and jammed on the brakes. The aircraft shuddered and screeched to a halt, presumably leaving long rubber streaks down the runway. Inside the plane loose items went flying, while the passengers were alarmed, but orderly.

After about 30 seconds, the pilot announced an apology, followed by an assurance that the aircraft was in perfect mechanical condition, and said that the reason for the aborted take-off was the presence of another aircraft on the runway. He then informed us that the brakes would have over-heated because of the speed we were travelling, so that they would have to cool then be inspected before we could attempt to take off again. We eventually got away 3 hours later, and the flight went well.

It was the most alarming incident I have experienced in many thousands of flights. Was it a near-death incident, or an ultra-cautious decision, or something in between? I have no idea, but I am certainly curious to know. Presumably one or other of the pilots or the air-traffic controller was at fault. My guess is that each has to file a report of such an incident, and that there is a formal investigation, with all reports and findings made public. I would like to read all this.

Can anyone tell me how I can access it?

Many thanks,

Cocitus23.

 

[Mal]

Nothing listed under current investigations by the NTSB: List by Month

Nothing listed on AV herald for that date: The Aviation Herald

Had a quick look at the other FAA safety report databases: ASIAS Home but doesn't appear to be listed there (yet?) either.

Maybe someone else has some other suggestions?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It may not show publicly while the incident is still under investigation by NTSB.

I would think that AA would have to raise a Safety Occurence Report but I imagine that would probably remain inhouse & not be made public.

At the very least you would expect ATC at DFW to raise an incident report as to why another a/c was still on the active runway when your flight had been given clearance for takeoff.

I would try contacting DFW Airport authorities & go from there.

 

[Cocitus23]

Not much response to this question, which rather surprises me, but thanks to both Mal and ozbeachbabe for the helpful and lucid replies which I have come to expect from them. Quality rather than quantity, and that's not a bad thing.

Oz, I have noticed in the past that you seem well connected within Qantas. Tell me, for an incident like this, which involved a Qantas code-share flight, do you think that AA would have even informed QF? I note your suggestion that I inquire through the authorities at DFW, but I feel that a lonely voice from the other side of the world would quickly get the brush-off by both DFW and AA.
Mal, I was not aware of the sources you quoted, so thanks very much. I will monitor them.

Do you think I am unreasonable to be feeling less than satisfied with the pilot's announcement? While it was prompt, calm and clear, it could be interpreted as "Ooops, we nearly killed you all there. Sorry about that." But I'm not sure what else he could have done or said at the time. Any ideas?

Cocitus23

 

[haydensydney]

I was under the impression that an aborted take-off would be classed as a 'non-reportable' incident (or in other words, the airline would not be obliged to inform the authorities).

I am no expert on airline regulations or the requirements they must adhere to for such matters though, so take my comment with a pinch of salt.

What I would add though is a aborted take-off (whilst alarming) isn't the end of the world - much like aborted landings - i'm sure they are happening every day all around the world without much fuss or hooplah.

 

[Cocitus23]

I was under the impression that an aborted take-off would be classed as a 'non-reportable' incident (or in other words, the airline would not be obliged to inform the authorities).

I am no expert on airline regulations or the requirements they must adhere to for such matters though, so take my comment with a pinch of salt.

What I would add though is a aborted take-off (whilst alarming) isn't the end of the world - much like aborted landings - i'm sure they are happening every day all around the world without much fuss or hooplah.

Oh sure, Hayden, I agree that there must be plenty of aborted take-offs, for all sorts of reasons. But what is worrying in this case is not the aborted take-off per se, but its cause: the fact that another aircraft was using the same runway. That suggests to me a serious error on the part of one of the parties. I imagine (hope) that the regulators would consider that such a breach warrants investigation.

Cocitus23.

 

[dajop]

Have had an aborted take off at MEL. Not quite the same, as the aircrafthad only just started the take off roll, and there was no braking we were quickly diverted to the taxiway. We were advised that this was due to final approach of another aircraft. Interestingly we were on EK and we noticed the landing the incoming aircraft was also EK.

 

[docjames]

Most (?all) runway incursions are investigated by ntsb. The aircraft should not have begun departure if there was already another aircraft on the runway. By the same token, another aircraft should not have entered your runway whilst you were on takeoff.

I'd be contacting the ntsb and see if they have any record of the incident (if not, perhaps also providing them with details).

By definition, it probably should be reported (but the online may not have caught up):

Federal regulations require operators to notify the NTSB immediately of aviation accidents and certain incidents. An accident is defined as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. An incident is an occurrence other than an accident that affects or could affect the safety of operations. (See 49 CFR 830.)

NTSB - National Transportation Safety Board

 

[haydensydney]

Or or or.... perhaps it was just an excuse from the pilot? Perhaps there was a more mundane reason? I'm not sure if there is any regulation covering small white lies from the coughpit?

 

[Cocitus23]

Thanks, docjames, for that fabulous reply. I'll certainly take up your suggestion re NTSB. By the way, are you personally involved in aircraft safety? You seem to speak from a base of knowledge and authority.

Cocitus23.

 

[Cocitus23]

Or or or.... perhaps it was just an excuse from the pilot? Perhaps it was a more mundane reason?

Funnily enough, Hayden, as we were taxiing back to the terminal my wife commented "Maybe the pilot just remembered that he had left his cut lunch on the kitchen table." But getting serious again, we were left in no doubt when we were again parked and they brought out an air-conditioning unit to blast cold air onto the brakes (It was about 40 Celsius in Dallas that day). It took 2 hours of this before the mechanics were prepared to touch them. So I was not in much doubt that the incident was out of the normal.

Cocitus23