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Experts baffled that so many built-in safeguards overlooked
Lexington Herald-Leader ^ | 2006-08-30 | Bill Estep, Linda J. Johnson And Ryan Alessi

Posted on 08/30/2006 4:22:04 AM PDT by Clive

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1 posted on 08/30/2006 4:22:05 AM PDT by Clive
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To: Clive
I read in another report that this crew had landed at that airport two days prior and at that time some of the runway lights had been turned off. That would suggest they weren't surprised that there were no lights on departure.

It would seem that every single thing that could go wrong, did on that fateful morning.

2 posted on 08/30/2006 4:25:15 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: Clive

to me a major clue that something was amiss with the crew is that they apparently initially boarded the wrong plane....


3 posted on 08/30/2006 4:25:29 AM PDT by mo
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To: mo

One thing I can't understand, why the controller didn't alert the plane as it picked up speed down the wrong runway.

Lexington airport gets what maybe two dozen planes a day what's this guy in the tower doing???


4 posted on 08/30/2006 4:34:53 AM PDT by traderrob6
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To: OldFriend
"It would seem that every single thing that could go wrong, did on that fateful morning."

It's called a cascade.

One thing after another culminating in a crash.

5 posted on 08/30/2006 4:37:07 AM PDT by Clive
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To: Clive

One of our checklist items was always to verify heading against the runway number. I wonder if they thought they were so familiar with the procedures, that they didn't need the written checklist.

Also, even if the runway lights were off, I would think there should still have been illumination in front of the plane from a light typically mounted on the nose gear. Enough illumination to read the great big "26" on the end of the runway, which doesn't look that much like the big "22" that should have been there.


6 posted on 08/30/2006 4:37:58 AM PDT by ex-NFO
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To: Clive
Chaos and entropy appear to be rampant in an increasingly complex world driven by accelerating technological change.

Recently I started counting the amount of chaotic situations that I encounter daily and it is simply astounding how adaptable we are. Most adaptation occurs in the background without our awareness.

Maybe we are a little too adaptable as exemplified by this disaster.

I am not a luddite just arguing for more awareness of human limits.


BUMP

7 posted on 08/30/2006 4:39:58 AM PDT by capitalist229 (Get Democrats out of our pockets and Republicans out of our bedrooms.)
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To: Clive
Were there no numbers on the runways?

The man piloting the plane is the one who survived......perhaps he can answer the urgent questions with regard to this calamity.

8 posted on 08/30/2006 4:42:25 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: Clive

I hope that the authorities have completed blood alcohol tests on these two pilots.

To make that many mistakes is unbelievable!


9 posted on 08/30/2006 4:43:05 AM PDT by aShepard (Maybe the UN should donate UNICEF proceeds to the Gates Foundation, and fold!)
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To: capitalist229

You have too much time on your hands.


10 posted on 08/30/2006 4:43:45 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: ex-NFO

No doubt, even if the lights on the runway number signs were off, the plane has it's own lights.........this crash is simply inexplicable.


11 posted on 08/30/2006 4:45:10 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: traderrob6

ATC in the tower is not responsible for making sure the pilots get on the right runway. This controller was also working other traffic, performing admin, other tasks. The academic quoted is wrong.

The article points out clearly the most important fact: there is only one runway at the airport suitable for commercial traffic. It's different in heading, appearance, lighting, and surface condition from the shorter GA runway. The chain of mistakes that caused this crash can all be traced back to the pilots. No ATC is going to expect them to make such a bone-headed decision.


12 posted on 08/30/2006 4:47:12 AM PDT by usafsk ((Know what you're talking about before you dance the QWERTY waltz))
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To: OldFriend

If it doesn't have numbers, it's a taxiway.


13 posted on 08/30/2006 4:54:00 AM PDT by ex-NFO
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To: usafsk

***No ATC is going to expect them to make such a bone-headed decision.***

Maybe not , but they seem hell-bent on ruining this guy.

It looks to me like at some time in this run they would have seen the runway running out and put on the brakes. What do I know I ran into the back of my garage once. LOL.


14 posted on 08/30/2006 4:56:34 AM PDT by sgtbono2002 (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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To: mo

Hmmm......I wonder if the pilots body is still intact enough to be tested for blood alcohol level and or other drugs.


15 posted on 08/30/2006 4:59:41 AM PDT by xp38
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To: Clive

Failing all else, the runway compass heading should have been a red flag--it could not have been correct. Both pilots did not pick on that-- a major boo-boo.


16 posted on 08/30/2006 5:02:10 AM PDT by exit82 (Sorry. You, along with Pluto, have just been voted out of the solar system(from FreeperLasVegasMac).)
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To: Clive

You know, Clive, this is another example... it's all Bush's fault. All runways should have been enlarged to 7,000 ft. to insure that this kind of accident doesn't happen. The Federal Government has plenty of money to upgrade all runways across America -- why doesn't the President DO something about these obvious problems BEFORE a terrible accident!


17 posted on 08/30/2006 5:09:13 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds
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To: xp38

'I wonder if the pilots body is still intact enough to be tested for blood alcohol level and or other drugs.'

All they need are the eyeballs.


18 posted on 08/30/2006 5:09:17 AM PDT by xone
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To: xp38

The only survivor is the guy that was flying the plane...


19 posted on 08/30/2006 5:15:44 AM PDT by DB (©)
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To: DB

Oh sorry. Missed that.


20 posted on 08/30/2006 5:18:08 AM PDT by xp38
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