Comments on: Plane crash in Lexington, KY

By: Mike Steinert

Mike Steinert — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 02:12:31 +0000

I witnessed the crash of September 25, 1978 from the RTC NTC Naval Station in San Diego. I was currently assigned to barracks clean up duty, and watched as a jet aircraft take off from the end of the runway from the second floor of the barracks. My attention was really on cleaning the barracks so I looked away momentarily. I looked back up in the sky just in time to see a flash and then watched as a jet aircraft just fell out of the sky and crashed over the hill out of sight. I assumed it was the jet that was taking off, but it turns out to be a different jet coming in for a landing from what I have read. This was the worst accident I have ever witnessed. Even after all these years, I still think of that day. I can’t imagine what terror it must have been knowing the plane was going down and there was nothing you could do but hang on and wait. It was a sad day, and wish I hadn’t been there to see it happen.
Mike

By: Free Modeling Portfolios

Free Modeling Portfolios — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 03:02:03 +0000

Yeah, sad stuff. Two of the people were a newlywed couple flying on their honeymoon.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 06:11:53 +0000

explain why “mossad” returned 0 links a few months ago, i tell a few people about it, and now a few months later it returns links.i know a lil programming , in order to return 0 links it would have to be specifically put into the engine code to NOT return. It seems strange to me.

By: James Walker

James Walker — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 03:25:52 +0000

I have had several discussions with a pilot friend about the tower controller. This was the only plane doing anything that morning. the tower is right at where the 2 runways intersect and is just to the right of the taxiway. This controller had a lone plane in his airspce and he has a sideline view of it. Maybe the FAA says his responsibility is over when he clears the aircraft for takeoff, but until they are parked at the end of head of the runway, which he has a view of, its right in front of his glass windows, and probably shaking them, he still has a responsibility. He is physically still in site of the aircraft, doesn’t have to go downstairs down the hall outside, drive over to the runway, just look up.
No matter what is written, the expectation of the passengers is for the pilot and the controller(s) to safely take them between air operations areas safely so that they arrive a destination from starting point in a controlled manner.
The pilots started prepping the wrong plane, anyone catch that.

By: SearcH EngineS WEB

SearcH EngineS WEB — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:52:26 +0000

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/30/plane.crash/index.html

Lexington controller had only 2 hours of sleep

The lone air-traffic controller on duty at the time of a jet crash Sunday morning in Lexington, Kentucky, was working on only two hours of sleep, a National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The controller told investigators that he had worked in the Blue Grass Airport tower from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday before reporting to work again at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, said Debbie Hersman, the NTSB member in charge of the crash investigation.

He was scheduled to work until 8 a.m. Sunday, she said

By: Rose Sylvia

Rose Sylvia — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:24:27 +0000

Since my other “life” is in Thoroughbred breeding I know many people in Lexington. We lost Dan Mallory, one of the most loved horsemen I have ever been honored to know, on that flight. He went out of his way to help all others, was a friend to all, and operated his business in ultimate integrity. He left the world a better place and will be sorely missed.

Dan was supposed to fly out the night before heading to the Thoroughbred sale in Texas. The flight was overbooked and he was rescheduled to the flight that crashed. The loss will be hardest on his wife and children.

Another friend tells me that the entrance to the runways had been changed or repainted about a week before this happened but numerous flights had left since then. There were also issues with runway lights not being on.

The pilots were supposedly given the correct runway but turned onto the wrong one. The correct runway was apparently lit but the other was not and that was said to be mentioned on the flight recorder.

To add to the confusion there is now an article at http://www.topix.net/content/reuters/0123595333302954457637946058380536564416 indicating that there had been an advisory to pilots the day before indicating that the lights were off on the correct runway.

The flight took off before daylight in rain which further reduced visibility.

By: Mike McDonald

Mike McDonald — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:13:14 +0000

Lexington, being Lexington, is the type of place where just about all of us will be no more than one or two degrees connected to either someone on that flight or their family or friends.

It’s a horrbile thing, and to be honest, very frustrating on many levels. It seems like it was such a needless tragedy.

I’m not a pilot, but I’d assume they check things like what direction they’re pointed in before they ‘go’. Beyond that, for those that are unfamiliar with Bluegrass, that runway isn’t even close to being big enough. It doesn’t even have lights…

I just can’t see how a pilot, in the dark, drives down a completely dark runway – crossing a runway lit up like a christmas tree in the process – without considering the possibility that something’s not quite right.

Very frustrating – and given the number of times I find myself on that 6am to Atlanta, flat out scary.

By: Ken Barbalace

Ken Barbalace — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 04:59:59 +0000

It was a very sad tragedy especially since it seems it could have been so easily prevented by simply following the checklist and verifying the heading. As Joel mentioned, it sounds like fatigue could have played a part in the crash.

This is so sad for so many families.

By: Scott Clark

Scott Clark — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 01:02:04 +0000

Hi Matt,

All of us here in Lexington are shaken. Even in a community this large we are tightly knit, and today the cafes and coffee shops downtown and on Campus were abuzz with conversations of those who knew someone who knew someone. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the families.

When before I simply ignore the dozens of jets that fly over the Chevy Chase each day, I couldn’t help but glance up at each one I saw today.

The United Way of the Bluegrass has set up a fund with Central Bank taking donations to help families.

http://www.uwbg.org/news/selectednews?item=news_sxkaDHDH7N

By: Matt Cutts

Matt Cutts — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:21:26 +0000

Justin, I’m really sorry to hear that.