LaGuardia’s Air Traffic Controllers Had Too Much to Do

Accident time occurred at 11:37 p.m. collision occurred at 11:37 p.m. on March 22.

Sequence of operations included simultaneous arrivals, departures, holds, and ground-vehicle movements events in 20-second span before collision.

Tower staffing two controllers were present two controllers were in the tower at the time of collision.

Controller roles one controller managed local/tower communications while a controller-in-charge managed departures one controller handled immediate airspace and active runways; another provided departure clearances.

Fire truck was cleared to cross runway 4 and then ordered to stop, port Authority fire truck crossed runway 4 and then was told to stop.