Embraer S A EMB-505 and Boeing 737 823 incident near Dallas, Texas, April 7, 2016
On April 7, 2016 at about 11:36 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Embraer S A EMB-505 (N304QS) and Boeing 737 823 (N896NN), were involved in the same incident near Dallas, Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth Intl airport). The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The controller's miscommunication of a clearance and failure to recognize and correct the readback resulting in the flight crew initiating takeoff without a clearance.
The controller's miscommunication of a clearance and failure to recognize and correct the readback resulting in the flight crew initiating takeoff without a clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2016 · about 11:36 pm local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Dallas-Fort Worth Intl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Embraer S A EMB-505 NO SERIES, built 2013 · all EMB-505s on the register
- Registration
- N304QS · registry record · serial 50500143
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737 823 823, built 2012 · all 737 823s on the register
- Registration
- N896NN · registry record · serial 33224
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Embraer S A EMB-505 final · quoted from the NTSB record
This runway incursion resulted from communications errors. The local control east controller (LE1) misspoke when intending to issue a landing clearance for a flight on approach to runway 35C and instead issued the flight on approach a takeoff clearance from runway 35L. The pilot of AAL2408, already in line up and wait position on runway 35L, interpreted the communication to be a takeoff clearance for his flight, acknowledged the takeoff clearance, and initiated takeoff. Immediately prior to AAL2408 initiating takeoff roll, the LE1 controller had cleared three different aircraft to cross runway 35L on three different taxiways. As AAL2408 began its takeoff roll the Runway Status Lights (RWSLs) on runway 35L activated Activation of the RWSL illuminated the Runway Entrance Lights (RELs) at the hold short locations of the three aircraft that had just been instructed to cross runway 35L and illuminated the Takeoff Hold Lights (THLs) at the approach end of the runway. The RELs provided a visual signal to the pilots holding short of runway 35L indicating the runway was unsafe to enter or cross. The THLs provided a visual signal to the pilot of AAL2408 that the runway was occupied however, data indicate that AAL2408 had progressed too far down the runway to observe the THLs by the time they had illuminated. Of the three aircraft holding short of runway 35L, only one proceeded across runway 35L. As that aircraft cleared the runway at taxiway K8 the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model-X indicated AAL2408's speed to be 120 knots and the closest proximity between the two aircraft was approximately 2,800 feet. In this incident, the LE1 controller adjusted his speech rate to the traffic volume while attempting to comply with the requirements of issuing explicit runway crossing clearances for each runway that intersects a taxi route resulting in an excessive speech rate by the LE1. During a System Service Review after the event, controllers identified a recent procedural change that required additional verbiage when issuing crossing instructions, and an increased speech rate associated with increased workload.
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 Boeing 737 823 final · quoted from the NTSB record
This runway incursion resulted from communications errors. The local control east controller (LE1) misspoke when intending to issue a landing clearance for a flight on approach to runway 35C and instead issued the flight on approach a takeoff clearance from runway 35L. The pilot of AAL2408, already in line up and wait position on runway 35L, interpreted the communication to be a takeoff clearance for his flight, acknowledged the takeoff clearance, and initiated takeoff. Immediately prior to AAL2408 initiating takeoff roll, the LE1 controller had cleared three different aircraft to cross runway 35L on three different taxiways. As AAL2408 began its takeoff roll the Runway Status Lights (RWSLs) on runway 35L activated Activation of the RWSL illuminated the Runway Entrance Lights (RELs) at the hold short locations of the three aircraft that had just been instructed to cross runway 35L and illuminated the Takeoff Hold Lights (THLs) at the approach end of the runway. The RELs provided a visual signal to the pilots holding short of runway 35L indicating the runway was unsafe to enter or cross. The THLs provided a visual signal to the pilot of AAL2408 that the runway was occupied however, data indicate that AAL2408 had progressed too far down the runway to observe the THLs by the time they had illuminated. Of the three aircraft holding short of runway 35L, only one proceeded across runway 35L. As that aircraft cleared the runway at taxiway K8 the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model-X indicated AAL2408's speed to be 120 knots and the closest proximity between the two aircraft was approximately 2,800 feet. In this incident, the LE1 controller adjusted his speech rate to the traffic volume while attempting to comply with the requirements of issuing explicit runway crossing clearances for each runway that intersects a taxi route resulting in an excessive speech rate by the LE1. During a System Service Review after the event, controllers identified a recent procedural change that required additional verbiage when issuing crossing instructions, and an increased speech rate associated with increased workload.
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 Embraer S A EMB-505 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › ATC personnel
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Flight crew
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 10,472 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PW535E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PW535E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Netjets Sales INC
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX
- Destination: DFW Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35L, 13,401 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
The factual record for the Boeing 737 823 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Airport occurrence during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › ATC personnel
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › ATC personnel
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Expectation/assumption › Flight crew
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 174,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24E (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: DFW Dallas TX at 11:36 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35L, 13,401 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number OPS16IA008.
