Part 4/8:
As the SkyWest aircraft received clearance to line up on the runway, the tower controller was simultaneously managing the landing approach of Flight 1493. Due to an overwhelming number of distractions, the controller's situational awareness severely diminished. In a shocking lapse of judgment, she cleared the Boeing 737 to land without ensuring that the runway was clear.
Compounding the problem was the dim visibility of the Metroliner—a small aircraft that, due to its non-activated strobe lights, blended nearly seamlessly into the runway environment at night. The procedures at SkyWest mandated that strobe lights only be activated once takeoff clearance was received.