Flight Data: Plane On Wrong Runway

Black Box Confirms That Pilots Made Error In Deadly Crash

(CBS/AP)  The worst such crash came on Oct. 31, 2000, when a Los Angeles-bound Singapore Airlines jumbo jet mistakenly went down a runway at Taiwan's Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport that had been closed for repairs because of a recent typhoon. The resulting collision with construction equipment killed 83 people on board.

Comair President Don Bornhorst said maintenance for the plane that crashed Sunday was up to date and its three-member flight crew was experienced and had been flying that airplane for some time.

"We are absolutely, totally committed to doing everything humanly possible to determine the cause of this accident," Bornhorst said. "One of the most damaging things that can happen to an investigation of this magnitude is for speculation or for us to guess at what may be happening."

Most of the passengers aboard the flight had planned to connect to other flights in Atlanta and did not have family waiting for them, said the Rev. Harold Boyce, a volunteer chaplain at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

One woman was there expecting her sister. The two had planned to fly together to catch an Alaskan cruise, Boyce said.

"Naturally, she was very sad," Boyce said. "She was handling it. She was in tears."

The only survivor of the crash was identified as first officer James M. Polehinke, who was in critical condition after surgery at the University of Kentucky hospital.

The other crew members were Capt. Jeffrey Clay, who was hired by Erlanger, Ky.-based Comair in 1999, and flight attendant Kelly Heyer, hired in 2004. Polehinke has been with Comair since 2002.

The plane had undergone routine maintenance as recently as Saturday and had 14,500 flight hours, which is "consistent with aircraft of that age," Bornhorst said.

Investigators from the FAA and NTSB were at the scene, and Bornhorst said the airline was working to contact relatives of the passengers.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said President Bush, who is spending a long weekend at his family's summer home on the Maine coast, was being briefed on the crash.

"The president was deeply saddened by the news of the plane crash in Kentucky today," she said. "His sympathies are with the many families of the victims of this tragedy."

Among those killed were a newlywed couple starting their honeymoon. Jon Hooker, a former minor-league baseball player, had just married Scarlett Parlsey the night before the crash in a fairy tale wedding ceremony complete with a horse-drawn carriage and 300 friends.

"It's so tragic because he was so happy last night," said Keith Madison, who coached Hooker's baseball team at the University of Kentucky and attended the wedding. "It's just an incredible turn of events. It's really painful."

The crash marks the end of what has been called the "safest period in aviation history" in the United States. There has not been a major crash since Nov. 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 plunged into a residential neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., killing 265 people, including five on the ground.

[mattybingo]

Article mentions last CRJ crash being 2004, but barely a year ago Northwest had a CRJ crash. It was being shuttled on a dead-head run, only two pilots and a flight attendant on board, but a fatal crash nonetheless. Cause never completely revealed, maybe because no passengers involved.

[phlashgordon]

Again, that was sarcasm. None of us think that this plane crash will have anything to do with political talking points.


"a more likely casualty count is 40-50k"

umm. okay. so in other words..you were just being a typical liberal blowhard. You JUST SAID that "bush murdered hundreds of thousands".

[robinseattle]

First, my condolences to the families and loved ones of those aboard Delta Connection 5191.

It is my understanding that there was recently some repaving done at the airport.

It appears that the pilots took off from runway 26 which is located before runway 22 which they were cleared on. Since the airport had recently been resurfacing the runways, I have two questions here. First, was runway 26 the runway which was resurfaced and if it was, was it clearly marked for the pilots who may have not been familar with this airport? Could this be the reason for the accident?

[overlybored]

Unless you are writing from a prison cell, convicted for tax evasion, aren't you as much to blame as Bush?

"I'm sure the Democrats will find some way to pin this on the Bush administration."

No one is trying to do that, not that it matters. He has soooooo much blood on his hands from the murder of hundreds of thousands, does it really matter if we add 50 or so more?

[spraycar]

I just love how libs can go from "hundreds of thousands" to "40K to 45K" and feel they've proved themselves.

Libs don't "get" facts nor logic, they just spout platitudes...

Tell me, 123, how is a suicide bombing between Sunni's and Shiites the fault of W? Help me understand how George is responsible for this hate... or yours, for that matter.

[coolhatch]

%u201COrr adds that two flights took off from the correct runway (22) just prior to the Comair flight's departure.%u201D

The above mentioned sentence should be corrected as follows:

Orr adds that two [other] flights took off from the correct runway (22) just prior to the Comair flight's departure.

[kirker123]

"source?"

Here ya go:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7967-2004Oct28.html (note that this article is dated October 2004)

A more likely casualty count is 40K-45K, but the 100K figure has at least been reported in the MSM.

[backhurts]

An accident like this the result of human error. Was weather a factor? I don't see it being a result of only pilot error unless there was no control tower. If this airport has a control tower and it was manned, then somebody wasn't watching the runways. It was very early in the morning. There are runway signs clearly marking the runway. This is an unnecessary loss of life. The NTSB will do their job. It will be interesting to hear all the facts.

[phlashgordon]

"go get a job"

I work 50 hours a week sir. In case you didn't notice...today is Sunday.

[bvineyard]

Although many contributing factors will be considered during the next year, the video evidence shows three obvious factors in the Comair accident.
1. As seen in the newscast, the identification numbers for runway 26 are painted on the very beginning of the runway. This is normal under current guidelines for a non-instrument runway.
2. The taxiway intersection for runway 26 allows the aircraft to enter the runway at a point beyond the identification numbers.
3. The identification numbers for runway 26 are faded, possibly beyond established safety standards.

Recommendation:

1. Place the non-instrument runway identificaton numbers well beyond the beginning of the runway at all airports.
2. Require more frequent inspection to meet minimum visibility standards for runway identification markings.
3. Require flight crews to add a final checklist item verifying assigned runway alignment with their compass. This checklist procedure alone may have prevented this accident.

[mnickolasky]

BluegrassReport.org has satellite images which shows why it is obvious that the plane used the wrong runway -- http://www.bluegrassreport.org/bluegrass_politics/2006/08/plane_crash_in_.html

[tickboy3]

The plane crashed. People Died. Sort out who's fault is was later when the dust settles. For now focus on the families of the dead passengers.

You guys have too much free time on your hands based on the comments you've posted. Go get a job!

[phlashgordon]

It was being sarcastic, chief.

"murder of hundreds of thousands".

source?

[thorhallur-2009]

How can it be "obvious" at this point that they used the wrong runway? And why haven't someone out there provided some aerial imagery, photos from helicopters or at least plotted the accident spot on a map to give a better idea of how things played out? Fox news just now tried to show maps of those two runways and how they might have taken off.. the only thing was that they misunderstood that they actually take off from the 22 or 26 on this airport, and not from the other end, as they were animating it. Lol!

[sp8cecowby]

"I'm sure the Democrats will find some way to pin this on the Bush administration."

No one is trying to do that, not that it matters. He has soooooo much blood on his hands from the murder of hundreds of thousands, does it really matter if we add 50 or so more?

[phlashgordon]

"Pin the blame on a political party."

I agree. I'm sure the Democrats will find some way to pin this on the Bush administration. I can hear it now: "In 2002, The Bush Administration {insert nonsensical jibberish here}...which ULTIMATELY caused the plane crash".

[chicagoboy22]

I don't understand why when anything bad happens, in every news story they have to include something to the likes of "this was not related to terrorism". Seems like a waste of print space.

[surfer1104-2009]

I am sure someone in the media will find a way to use this airline crash as an issue in the upcomming elections. Pin the blame on a political party.

[damonfu]

did you read the article. not much comprehension if so

[dannoga]

IT IS OBVIOUS WRONG RUNWAY WAS USED FOR TAKEOFF...QUESTION IS DID ATC (GROUND,TOWER ETC) CLEAR THEM TO TAKE OFF ON THAT INCORRECT RUNWAY...OR DID THEY DECIDE TO USE IT ON THEIR OWN?