Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 70
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Procedure
Cleared for takeoff Runway 34 by Tower. As we took the runway we saw a shadow move across us from a Citation that was on short final and was forced to do a go around.
The aircraft I was in was approaching ZZZ and upon initial contact with the Tower I was prompted to cancel the IFR flight plan; which I did and was then immediately cleared to land. The Captain then commenced a visual approach to the runway. At approximately 200 FT AGL and about 1 mile or less from the airport; we both noticed a high-wing single engine aircraft taxi onto the runway and we briefed each other on the event; waiting for about 4 or 5 seconds to see if the aircraft was just crossing the runway but then the aircraft lined up on the runway as if getting ready to takeoff. We initiated a go-around. After we set the appropriate flap setting; started to climb and retracted the landing gear we were approximately midfield and I advised the Control Tower that we had gone around; assuming they already were aware of that and that we were just doing the appropriate action to announce that. The Tower's response was; 'Ok; is there a problem?' My response was. 'No; we don't have a problem just the plane that taxied in front of us just before we were about to land.' Their response was; 'Ok; make right traffic and cleared to land.' The Captain called the Tower on the phone after we were at the FBO and the passengers were situated and was told by the Controller that they had cleared the plane to takeoff and they thought that he was gone. I think that if the Tower had watched the other aircraft leave the runway before they focused their attention elsewhere; the incident could not have happened.
A Citation First Officer and a C172 Instructor describe an incident resulting in a go around for the Citation when the C172 taxis onto the runway for takeoff. The C172 had been cleared for takeoff; but apparently took some time to do so.