Narrative:

After landing on runway 34 at ric, tower cleared us to exit onto taxiway C, cleared us to cross runway 2 and contact ground when clear of runway 2. While on taxiway C and just as we were about to cross runway 2, tower inquired if we were holding short of runway 2. Since we were at taxi speed and could not see another transport aircraft at the takeoff position of runway 2 and we could not stop prior to entering runway 2, I continued across the runway. Apparently the tower had already cleared the other aircraft for takeoff on runway 2, thinking he had my aircraft holding short. My recollection is that the tower had cleared my aircraft to cross the runway. I don't know if the other aircraft had actually begun to roll, but I would say we were never closer than about 3000 ft. Supplemental information from acn 380914: ric tower issued clearance for us to takeoff on runway 2. A DC9 had just landed on runway 34. The DC9 was cleared to cross runway 2 and contact ground on other side. As our aircraft taxied on the runway, we noted the DC9 crossing in front of us. Both aircraft had been cleared at the same time. The DC9 captain pointed out the problem to ric tower who acknowledged the mistake and 'took himself off the position' as controller. Though not specifically a dangerous incident, the potential for catastrophic mishap was enormous. Prevention: attention to detail by tower controller.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATCT LCL CTLR CLRED AN ACR DC9 TO CROSS RWY 2 THEN CLRED AN ACR B727 FOR TKOF ON THE SAME RWY. THE FLCS WORKED OUT THE SIT AND THE LCL CTLR REMOVED HIMSELF FROM HIS POS.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG ON RWY 34 AT RIC, TWR CLRED US TO EXIT ONTO TXWY C, CLRED US TO CROSS RWY 2 AND CONTACT GND WHEN CLR OF RWY 2. WHILE ON TXWY C AND JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO CROSS RWY 2, TWR INQUIRED IF WE WERE HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 2. SINCE WE WERE AT TAXI SPD AND COULD NOT SEE ANOTHER TRANSPORT ACFT AT THE TKOF POS OF RWY 2 AND WE COULD NOT STOP PRIOR TO ENTERING RWY 2, I CONTINUED ACROSS THE RWY. APPARENTLY THE TWR HAD ALREADY CLRED THE OTHER ACFT FOR TKOF ON RWY 2, THINKING HE HAD MY ACFT HOLDING SHORT. MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THE TWR HAD CLRED MY ACFT TO CROSS THE RWY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER ACFT HAD ACTUALLY BEGUN TO ROLL, BUT I WOULD SAY WE WERE NEVER CLOSER THAN ABOUT 3000 FT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 380914: RIC TWR ISSUED CLRNC FOR US TO TKOF ON RWY 2. A DC9 HAD JUST LANDED ON RWY 34. THE DC9 WAS CLRED TO CROSS RWY 2 AND CONTACT GND ON OTHER SIDE. AS OUR ACFT TAXIED ON THE RWY, WE NOTED THE DC9 XING IN FRONT OF US. BOTH ACFT HAD BEEN CLRED AT THE SAME TIME. THE DC9 CAPT POINTED OUT THE PROB TO RIC TWR WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE MISTAKE AND 'TOOK HIMSELF OFF THE POS' AS CTLR. THOUGH NOT SPECIFICALLY A DANGEROUS INCIDENT, THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC MISHAP WAS ENORMOUS. PREVENTION: ATTN TO DETAIL BY TWR CTLR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.