Bombardier INC CL-600-2C1 and Cessna R172K incident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, September 19, 2008
On September 19, 2008 at about 11:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bombardier INC CL-600-2C1 (N506MJ) and Cessna R172K (N736GV), were involved in the same incident near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Allentown / Lehigh Valley Intl airport). No one was hurt; 63 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both tower controllers to maintain awareness of the position of N736GV and ensure that the aircraft was clear of the runway before issuing a takeoff clearance to ASH7138.
The failure of both tower controllers to maintain awareness of the position of N736GV and ensure that the aircraft was clear of the runway before issuing a takeoff clearance to ASH7138.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2008 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Allentown, Pennsylvania · Allentown / Lehigh Valley Intl · map
- Type
- Incident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 63 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bombardier INC CL-600-2C1
- Registration
- N506MJ · no longer on the register · serial 10073
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736GV · registry record · serial R1722524
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Bombardier INC CL-600-2C1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 19, 2008, at 1938 eastern daylight time, an operational error occurred that resulted in a near-collision on runway 6 at the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mesa Air Shuttle flight 7138, a Canadair CRJ-700 carrying 56 passengers and four crew from ABE to Chicago as a scheduled 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 121 flight, aborted takeoff because N736GV, a Cessna 172 carrying a pilot and two passengers under 14 CFR part 91, had just landed and was still taxiing on the runway near the intersection with taxiway B. The crew of ASH7138 estimated the distance between the two aircraft as 10 feet when they passed. There was no damage to either aircraft and no reported injuries. Following the incident, both aircraft taxied to parking. The crew of ASH7138 elected to cancel the flight and have the aircraft inspected. N736GV taxied to general aviation parking and concluded the flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna R172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 19, 2008, at 1938 eastern daylight time, an operational error occurred that resulted in a near-collision on runway 6 at the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mesa Air Shuttle flight 7138, a Canadair CRJ-700 carrying 56 passengers and four crew from ABE to Chicago as a scheduled 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 121 flight, aborted takeoff because N736GV, a Cessna 172 carrying a pilot and two passengers under 14 CFR part 91, had just landed and was still taxiing on the runway near the intersection with taxiway B. The crew of ASH7138 estimated the distance between the two aircraft as 10 feet when they passed. There was no damage to either aircraft and no reported injuries. Following the incident, both aircraft taxied to parking. The crew of ASH7138 elected to cancel the flight and have the aircraft inspected. N736GV taxied to general aviation parking and concluded the flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Bombardier INC CL-600-2C1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › ATC personnel
- cause Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Training › Initial training › ATC
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 SERIES; 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 SERIES; 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesa Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: Allentown PA at 11:38 pm
- Destination: KORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 06, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from KABE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 56 |
The factual record for the Cessna R172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Air traffic event during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › ATC personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › ATC personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,170 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360 SER; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDW Caldwell NJ
- Destination: Allentown PA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 06, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N506MJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.