Posted on 07/09/2016 6:37:51 AM PDT by r_barton
Ellesworth AFB is a much more inviting landing strip.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. Delta Airlines Corporation has graciously permitted me to fly you to the correct airport at no extra charge. As we take off, those of you on the starboard side of the airplane can see our destination airport a couple of miles to the east. Should you become thirsty on our short flight, water, as always, is $5.00 per bottle. Enjoy your free flight, courtesy of Delta Airlines Corporation. That is all.”
Yes, but the crew may have been switched over to Tower when they said they have the runway in sight (wrong runway).
ATC should have noted something amiss, but who knows, maybe they were distracted by personal conversations or other traffic (not good).
The crew were vectored until they saw what they thought was the correct runway and pad-locked onto it. Because they pad-locked on the wrong runway and did not see the correct runway, they landed at the wrong one.
The aircrew screwed up by a) misidentifying the wrong runway as their destination, and b) not verifying that they were seeing with on-board nav/aides.
ATC/Tower also share some blame as they should have noted the aircraft over-shooting and heading to the wrong runway.
In the San Francisco bay area if you listen to air traffic control, private pilots frequently line up on Moffett Field (an old Naval Air Station) instead of San Jose International (SJC) and have to be warned off by air traffic control. They are only about 7 miles from one another.
“Pilots don’t crosscheck ILS or other navaids.”
“Don’t?”
Actually: Pilots USUALLY crosscheck ILS/Nav/Aids.
Just to be clear, US military bases do not have SAMS or AAA.
This time of year, it's still pretty light outside -- depending on the cloud cover. Yesterday, sunset was at 8:37 PM in Rapid City.
But, during that transition period it can be really hard to see details on the ground, especially if they were flying west "into the sun".
I'd have to do the math, but it's possible that even though the sun had set on the ground 5 minutes earlier, they were still seeing it, even at low altitude.
I remember that Dreamlifter in Wichita. They had to close a local road near the end of the runway when the plane took off because of the fear the jet wash would blow a passing car off the road.
Andy bailed out?
No, Andy was a rock. Stayed till the end.
hee hee
hee hee
I see what you did there. . .
Can’t they put a big read ‘X’ on that runway so civilians know not to land there?
I’ll never be over Macho Grande!!
The article says that they were in contact with Ellsworth Approach control. That's because they also service the Rapid City airport.
The plane would have been "handed off" to the Rapid City tower. I'm surprised the tower didn't notice they were lined up on the wrong runway.
But, what was the intent of the pilots? /s
Quit making fun of Hillary! Hussein and the Muslim terrorists' plans rest on Hillary continuing the destructive policy of the Demon party.
Hussein might let it pass this time but don't be surprised if the iRS comes calling with a short stay in jail to get your attention.
Nice thought. . .but what about an IFE with NORDO. . .limping to nearest airport to land only to be shot down and killed?
I had an IFE (electrical fire), went NORDO, landed at the closest runway (Dyess AFB). Could not make it to Abilene Municipal.
Thanks for that visual -- it really helps the non-pilots to see how close they are...
Pilots don’t crosscheck ILS or other navaids.
...like flaps deployed or landing gear down......or the copilot that heard gear up while speeding down the runway for take off...when the pilot said cheer up while consoling his copilot with a failing marriage
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.