Comair pilot: lack of runway lights 'weird'

www.ajc.com/business ^ | 01/17/07 | The Associated Press

[rawhide]

Seconds before a commuter plane crashed after going down the wrong runway, the co-pilot noted it was "weird" that the Lexington, Ky., strip had no lights, according to a transcript released Wednesday.

The runway wasn't long enough for a passenger jet when Comair Flight 5191 took off in the pre-dawn darkness on Aug. 27.

Co-pilot James Polehinke said it was "weird with no lights," just seconds before the sound of the impact was heard, according to the National Transportation Safety Board transcript. The captain, Jeffrey Clay, then responded, "Yeah."

The crash killed 49 of 50 people on board. Polehinke, the lone survivor, lost a leg and suffered brain damage from the crash. He has told family members he remembers nothing about that morning.

According to federal investigators, Clay taxied the plane onto the wrong runway before Polehinke took over the controls for takeoff from Lexington's Blue Grass Airport.

Polehinke said, "I'll take us to Atlanta," and Clay responds, 'sure."

According to the transcript, the last understandable word came from Clay just a second before the crash, when he said, "whoa." (snip)

[mewzilla]

So why didn't they check their compass headings to make sure they were on the right runway, I wonder?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Because the maps in their cockpit weren't updated to show a construction project that was going on at the airport.

(They still should've exercised more caution when they recognized that something was amiss.)

[Felis_irritable]

I can't believe these guys were so casual about no runway lights at night. What's the prob with calling ground control and asking WTF?? Not to mention (as has already been mentioned) the "check your compass" issue.

[jaydubya2]

They did not even check their compass to verify they were on the right runway. The excerpt from the transcipt indicates that they did not realize their mistake until a moment before impact. Unfortunately...

[SF Republican]

they did not realize their mistake until a moment before impact - life is like that sometimes

[BillM]

You are forbidden from taking off without lights at night.

[lilylangtree]

Lotsa questions with no answers.

[BillM]

Sec. 121.590 - Use of certificated land airports.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section or unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no air carrier, and no pilot being used by an air carrier may, in the conduct of operations governed by this part, operate an airplane designed for at least 31 passenger seats into a land airport in any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States, unless that airport is certificated under part 139 of this chapter. However, an air carrier may designate and use as a required alternate airport for departure or destination an airport that is not certificated under part 139 of this chapter.

(b) Certificate holders conducting passenger-carrying operations with airplanes designed for less than 31 passenger seats may operate those airplanes into airports not certificated under part 139 of this chapter if the following conditions are met:

(1) The airport is adequate for the proposed operation, considering such items as size, surface, obstructions, and lighting.

(2) For an airplane carrying passengers at night, the pilot may not take off from, or land at, an airport unless --

(i) The pilot has determined the wind direction from an illuminated wind direction indicator or local ground communications or, in the case of takeoff, that pilot's personal observations; and

(ii) The limits of the area to be used for landing or takeoff are clearly shown by boundary or runway marker lights. If the area to be used for takeoff or landing is marked by flare pots or lanterns, their use must be approved by the Administrator.

[spunkets]

"whoa."

Yeah, duh.

[albee]

"According to the transcript, the last understandable word came from Clay just a second before the crash, when he said, "whoa." (snip)

I would have thought that the last word uttered before they crashed would have been "HOLY S**T!"

[spunkets]

"(ii) The limits of the area to be used for landing or takeoff are clearly shown by boundary or runway marker lights."

I'd think they'd realize that before they gave it some gas.

[null and void]

First you say it...

[CougarGA7]

I can guarantee you that my last words will not be whoa.

[Western Phil]

From the report: "A week before the crash, the taxiways at Blue Grass were altered as part of a construction project, but the maps and charts used in the cockpits of Comair and other airlines were not updated. The FAA did notify airlines of the changes through a separate announcement.
Only one controller was on duty when the plane crashed. The veteran controller cleared the flight for takeoff, then turned away to do administrative work, officials said. He didn't see the plane turn down the wrong runway, try to take off and then crash in flames.
The regional jet was supposed to take off from the 7,000-foot main runway, runway 22, but instead used the 3,500-foot runway 26, which is meant only for smaller planes.
As they prepared for takeoff, Polehinke asked, "what runway," and inquired about runway 24 — which does not exist. Clay immediately responded, "It's 22.""

There was a report that runway lights were not on the evening one or more of the pilots came in. Apparently both had flown out of the airport a number of times and should be somewhat familiar with its layout. It appears that the construction work made some changes in the taxiway routing to runway 22. The original setup was that the taxiway ended at this runway. In the poor early morning light, the construction changes and possible inadequate taxiway lighting may have made it appear that runway 26 was the end of the taxiway.

My guess as to what happened is the following: Everyone is a creatue of habit and the pilot, who was taxiing, had flown out of the airport enough times so that he "knew" that Runway 22 was at the end of the taxiway, so he made a wrong turn onto the much shorter 26.

[jdm]

lack of runway lights 'weird'

"Sorry, my bad"

[Crucis Country]

The compass heading would have been the same if it was a parallel taxiway.

[Oztrich Boy]

Is this the right runway?