Plane Crashes in Lexington

WTVQ 36 Lexington ^ | August 27, 2006 | Jon Sasser

[BigBlueJon]

Possible plane crash in Lexington, KY. My brother works security for Lexington UK Hospital and was just called in. No news locally or on major news outlets yet. I didn't want to post anything for fear of being wrong, but he's still waiting for an official call while on stand-by.

Update from WTVQ 36 Lexington:

A plane has crashed near the Blue Grass Airport this morning. No word on details at this time. We are told it was a commercial aircraft. Versailles Road is blocked as emergency vehicles circle around the site. We have live coverage beginning at 7:20am. Stay with Action News 36 for more details.

[reagandemo]

I waited a while before posting.. I live a couple of miles from the airport and yesterday morning you could smell the jet fuel burning from my house. That's before I knew about the crash and had an inkling what the smell was. Second, being a former general aviation pilot and aircraft owner and having flown in and out of that field many a time I find it strange that a pilot would be so distracted to take 26 instead of 22 for departure. All I can say is what my instructor told me on my first lesson. There are no decisions which are inconsequential when flying a plane. a couple of little mistakes can get you, your passengers and people on the ground in trouble fast.

[Moose4]

That does make a whole lot of sense. The taxiway name change may have crossed the pilot up. Although I'd still be surprised that he'd miss the big white "26" on the sign at the hold short point...assuming that it's visible in the dark. Not all airports light their taxiway signs, and the taxi/landing lights on the CRJ may not have let him see it maybe?

}:-)4

[ccmay]

When the FAA put temporary flight restrictions in effect they can make the ceiling as high as they want.

Right you are. I think that the prohibited areas over DC and restricted areas over top secret military areas like Groom Lake are of unlimited ceiling. If you're not in orbit, you can't fly over them at all.

-ccm

[reagandemo]

The tower is located in a position to see 100% of the taxi and runways at the airport. Personal experience.

[don-o]

The tower is located in a position to see 100% of the taxi and runways at the airport. Personal experience.

Another example of why this board is so great! Get the lowdown from people who know jack!

Props to both.

[NittanyLion]

Nice job - I suspect it was exactly as you state. The pilots got to the end of the taxiway and thought that was the correct runway. Couple that with only 4-5 hours of sleep and the early morning takeoff, and you could see how the confusion might have lasted long enough to get down the short runway.

[RebelTex]

Thanks.

[maineman]

This tragic plane accident, as most, is the result of a series of human errors.

The tower either gave the pilot the wrong runway number or didn't notice the jet on the wrong runway. Which ever..human error.

[NittanyLion]

For several years now the air traffic controllers, that work the system from the front lines every day, have told the FAA and Administrator Blakey that a system called ASDE-X is a necessary component to safe operations of ground traffic in the air traffic control towers. This system allows the controller to see and track via radar, all aircraft and vehicle movement on the airport surface area.

It almost seems like you should be able to stick up some RFID receivers at various taxiways and outfit jets with an active RFID tag. Then the jet would need to pass the correct tag before being given clearance, or would get an error message is passing the wrong tag. Maybe I'm just oversimplifying...

[CedarDave]

Any news from the NTSB's noon press briefing?

[Help!]

See new thread:
Kentucky Horse Industry Impacted by Sunday Plane Crash
under Extended News

Provides names of passengers and some of their stories.

[Moonman62]

At the very least I think that both pilots would have checked their heading.

[don-o]

I just turned up WLW radio (Cincinnati) on XM. They are talking it. i'll post anything I hear.

[don-o]

Talking in detail about the pre-flight routine.

Had to miss six or seven checkoffs on the list to get on the wrong runway.

[toldyou]

Can't find the thread......

[don-o]

Needed 5,000 feet to get that thing off the ground. Question comes again about was anyone in jumpseat?

Still not clear. If so, was it a distraction? Not keeping his yap shut until up to 10k feet. They get a cue card.

Still speculation.

Jay Ratliff is the expert.

[CedarDave]

Had to miss six or seven checkoffs on the list to get on the wrong runway.

Your comment, press comment, or NTSB comment? Pretty speculative if NTSB.

In any event, thanks for listening and posting.

[CedarDave]

Kentucky Horse Industry Impacted by Sunday Plane Crash

[Tanglefoot]

I am a former Navy and FAA air traffic controller. That was a long time ago and I'm not sure if many of the old ways are still practiced.

When I was a controller, it was common practice to give clearance for takeoff en route to the runway. Sting 11 verifies this practice is still done. I would be very surprised if prior takeoff clearance was not given in this instance.

I agree with Painful, another air traffic controller, that there was probably only one controller in the tower. Two controllers would have been much better. I have seen many times when something didn't "look quite right" to another controller and was brought to the attention of another.

I live 50 miles from LEX but have not been to the airport. I have tried to picture in my mind how the end of those two runways appear from the tower in the dark. They appear awfully close to me ............ one easily mistaken for the other.

I think I have read every thread here and only some of the coverage on TV. When I was a controller, a special weather observation was taken anytime their was an aircraft accident. I haven't seen this one, if it was performed. I wonder if there may have been visibility problems for the flight crew, or the controller because of rain showers.

[don-o]

I wonder if there may have been visibility problems for the flight crew, or the controller because of rain showers.

From my memory only, I think vsby was six miles. That may well have been from the NOAA site or some such. All the speculation (and factual info) has not brought in weather in as a factor.

What I just heard on WLW radio is most intriguing; that is that they had to blow off / ignore several check offs on the pre-flight to get on the wrong runway.

Question then is, What happened? Distraction from a suspected jumpseat passenger? Something else?