I agree totally! The crew should be congratulated.

"It was very fortunate that they were as prepared for this incident as they ended up being," said Larry Krautter, the airport's deputy executive director. "Their reaction was extraordinary. The airmanship involved was absolutely extraordinary. They are to be congratulated for how well they handled it."

Almost half of the ATC guys they have at that airport are trainees! Thats scary.

I smell an ALPA Air Safety Award...

I'm not Mesa bashing at all (although I don't like Mesa anymore than the next guy). I'm just trying to figure out how they could miss an aircraft on their runway in broad daylight and good visibility? The aircraft couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 thousand feet down the runway. If it was at night, then it makes total sense how they couldn't see the other aircraft. It's kinda like having a green light to cross an intersection. You may be right and legal to cross with the green, but you still have to drive defensively. Just because you have a takeoff clearance doesn't mean it's safe to takeoff. It just seems weird that the crew couldn't see the other aircraft prior to starting their takeoff roll. Kudos to the crew for getting out of the situation, but how did they get into it to begin with? Asking questions is how we all become better pilots.

***Edit*** Looks like it was dusk. The article says the time was 1945. I wonder if the Cessna even had his nav and strobe lights on.

1945 local is not dusk, not even close. But go MESA!! It's good to see a a low time f/o and captain that aren't getting paid squat and have to put up with the BS of Mesa can still get out of harms way. BUT on the other hand they sure put themselves and 60 passengers in that situation. Everyone knows it never ATC's fault, it's "Pilot Error"


I know an RJ doesn't sit up much higher than a Chickenhawk, but does that hinder you from seeing down the whole runway? I understand, 7600ft is a long way!!

Normally, I'd make a crack about the crews distracted by hair gel..

However, the local controller couldn't spot the tiny aircraft either at night.

Did the cessna have operable lights or strobes??

I agree with Cyclepilot. This wouldn't have happened if these guys had used a little common sense. They both heard the 172 tell the controller they missed thier exit(according to the report)........ .....and they continued the roll....(sigh)

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, but this one is pushing it. I don't see any reason to give them a "good job"

You're right, the sun set at 1856 local in my home town.

Dusk is more like 1830 there...

Dusk
Same as Civil Dusk; the time at which the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the evening. At this time objects are distinguishable but there is no longer enough light to perform any outdoor activities.

U. S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Dept.
Civil Twilight for 2008
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Location: W075 29, N40 36
September 19 1831 local
September 20 1829 local
September 21 1827 local
September 22 1826 local

I completely agree here. I think that they did a heck of a job avoiding the 172, however, it sounds from their own admission that they probably should not have been in that situation anyway. Good job maneuvering, but poor situational awareness leading up to it. We as professional flight crews need to be very aware of our surroundings and not just follow every ATC instruction blindly.

Quote from WMUPilot - 1945 local is not dusk, not even close. But go MESA!!




Uhmmmm, really. Isn't dusk AFTER sunset? You know the 6 degrees below the horizon thing (if I can remember from CFI-ing 15 years ago). If sunset was around 1900 then it would get dark around 1930 right around the time of this incident...well plus 15 minutes, heck that's on-time at Mesa.:)

The cessna had no strobes. The tower was operating, so there was no need for the cessna to report clear. The "we missed our exit" transmission was heard at 120+ kts.

F/O saw the tail nav light on the cessna, followed by the illumination of the entire aircraft in the CRJ's landing lights. The abort was initiated at 140kts, and the CRJ literally passed the cessna on the rwy. The aircraft never left the rwy surface.

Sounds like a job well done to me.