[zipper]

I have an acquaintance with an insider source that told me the aircraft was both "high and hot" over the runway threshold. They were supposedly at 250 feet over the threshold, though about 50 feet is normal for either an instrument or visual approach. I don't know exactly how hot they were but even a few knots is problematic considering the short runway and slick conditions. If the increased speed was only a little it could have been due to operational policy in dealing with gusts or even strong steady-state winds, but I don't know what they were calling the winds at the time of landing.

If it's true they were that high over the threshold they the crew will almost certainly be fired.

[Aeronaut]

If the increased speed was only a little it could have been due to operational policy in dealing with gusts or even strong steady-state winds, but I don't know what they were calling the winds at the time of landing.

The NTSB woman yesterday said the winds were 13 MPH. I can't see that as a factor.

[supercat]

I have an acquaintance with an insider source that told me the aircraft was both "high and hot" over the runway threshold. They were supposedly at 250 feet over the threshold, though about 50 feet is normal for either an instrument or visual approach.

What would be the required altitude/airspeed to abort a landing? I'd think that could be done with anything down to the recommended airspeed and 50' altitude; is that correct?

[A.A. Cunningham]

According to the NTSB tailwind was 7-8 knots, aircraft speed was 132 knots at touchdown, 40 knots at impact, 32 seconds between touchdown and impact with the fence. Runway braking was fair on most of the runway but poor on the end of 31C.

'The pilot of the G4, who landed 2 1/2 minutes before Southwest Flight 1248, said conditions were "fair to poor" along the entire length of the 6,500-foot runway, said a source close to the investigation who would not speak on the record because of the probe.'

'Cloud ceiling was at 300 feet and visibility was one quarter-mile, according to the NTSB. The temperature was 27 degrees with wind at 11 knots, which would have created a crosswind and a tail wind, aviation safety experts said, making the landing a bit more challenging.'