The pilot for a small cargo-hauling airline missed a taxiway turn at Denver International Airport on Friday because of blowing and piled-up snow and instead turned onto an active runway, the carrier’s chief pilot acknowledged Tuesday.
“We’re not trying to dodge blame,” said Todd Schleibaum, lead pilot at Key Lime Air. “We take responsibility for it.”
A Frontier Airlines jet about to land on DIA’s runway 35 Left on Friday morning had to suddenly abort because of the smaller craft on the runway.
Key Lime operates feeder flights for UPS in the region. The turboprop’s pilot had been directed by air traffic controllers to taxi from DIA’s cargo ramp and turn north onto taxiway Mike.
“He found the visibility very limited,” Schleibaum said. “He followed green centerline taxiway lighting,” missed the turn onto Mike, “and entered 35 Left. … He got confused.”
But there were “extenuating circumstances,” Schleibaum said, noting the pilot’s report that “all the runway and taxiway markings were completely obscured by snow.”
Taxiways have green centerline lights and blue edge lights. Runways have white lights, but also other safety markings and signs to keep planes from entering inadvertently.
The “runway incursion” by the Key Lime plane is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
DIA operations and maintenance employees have the responsibility for ensuring that taxiway and runway lights and signs are visible.
Because the investigation is ongoing, DIA officials would not comment on the condition of lights and signs at the airport on Friday.
