Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors
MTJ is an uncontrolled airport with NO tower facility. Landing and departing aircraft were using runway 35. Weather was clear VFR with light winds. We landed on Runway 35; cleared at A3 and taxied south on Taxiway A toward Taxiway C. After landing and during taxi we maintained a listening watch for other traffic on the local Unicom frequency. We heard another aircraft (private non commercial small jet type; I think some kind of Beechjet) making numerous position reports for a landing on runway 35. There was a Airbus; a MD80; and a Q400 lined up on Taxiways A8 and D waiting to depart on Runway 35. While on Taxiway C; approaching the intersection with Runway 31; we announced on Unicom that we were crossing Runway 31. During taxi the First Officer and I were both watching for the (Beechjet?) aircraft that was suppose to be landing on Runway 35 and did not see him. Prior to crossing Runway 31; both the First Officer and I looked in both directions for approaching aircraft. Neither of us saw any so I turned on all aircraft lights and proceeded across Runway 31 toward the terminal building. As I entered the runway; the (Beechjet?) aircraft came on the frequency and berated us for crossing in front of him. The First Officer and I both spun our heads and suddenly viewed the aircraft on short final for Runway 31. At this time there was approximately 1 mile separation between us; while not a near miss it certainly was an uncomfortable and unsafe condition to be in. We informed the private aircraft that he was landing on Runway 31 and NOT Runway 35 as he had been broadcasting on the Unicom frequency. We expedited our crossing to clear the runway as quickly as possible. He continued his landing and did not go-around as he should have. Upon gate arrival; I queried the other airliners on the field to confirm that the (Beechjet?) aircraft was in fact announcing that he was landing on Runway35. Someone responded and confirmed that the (Beechjet?) aircraft was indeed announcing that they were landing on Runway 35.The First Officer and I spent a lot of time discussing this incident and trying to figure out how this happened and what we could have done differently to prevent it. We could not come up with anything other than to have seen the aircraft sooner; and I'm not sure how we could have done that; as we were watching for him. It seems that we did everything right. We were on the correct frequency; we made numerous position reports; and we listened and watched intently for other aircraft; and we looked before crossing the runway. This aircraft just appeared from nowhere. When we did see him; his single nose landing light was illuminated. We don't know exactly when he turned it on or if it was on before the runway incursion. The aircraft was small; and there is rising terrain along the approach to runway 31. During his approach to MTJ we heard him talking to Denver Center about needing to do some S turns to get down. The best we can figure is that he got high; started S turning and lost situational awareness of the location of Runway 35; and then lined up on Runway 31 thinking he was on 35. The small aircraft blended in with the rising terrain behind Runway 31 (from our view point) that obscured this aircraft preventing us from seeing it. The day following the incident we were contacted by Captain X; who was flying the Airbus that was waiting to depart on Runway 35 when this incident happened. He witnessed the event and offered his support and information. He confirmed that the (Beechjet?) aircraft landed on the wrong runway; and that he and his FO were looking for the aircraft as well and did not see it either. Everyone got lucky this day; however this incident further highlights an enormous safety concern I have always had regarding commercial airline service at uncontrolled airports. ANY AIRPORT THAT HAS REGULARLY SCHEDULED AIRLINE SERVICE WITH MULTIPLE FLIGHTS INVOLVING MULTIPLE AIRLINES SHOULD HAVE A CONTROL TOWER WITH A RADAR FACILITY. PERIOD. How many people need to die; and how big do the news headlines have to be in order to get the FAA to rectify this preventable safety hazard?
An air carrier Captain reported crossing Runway 31 at MTJ with a light jet on final about a mile out they had not seen. Reporter commented that this airport has mixed airline and light aircraft traffic and should have a Tower for a safe operation.