Gusty Conditions Provided Strong Crosswind Component

Information released in the National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report on the December 20 crash of Continental Flight 1404 at Denver International Airport has given rise to speculation about the part gusty prevailing winds may have played in the incident.

According to the NTSB report, weather observations at the time of the accident showed winds were from 290 degrees at 24 knots (28 mph), gusting to 32 knots (37 mph). In attempting to take off on runway 34R (listed as 350 degrees magnetic, 001 degrees true), one thing is certain -- Flight 1404 experienced a substantial crosswind.

While still within the demonstrated crosswind component range for a Boeing 737-500, speculation about the role the winds played has intensified, with questions about the choice of runway at the forefront, the Associated Press reported.

As ANN reported, Continental Flight 1404 crashed the evening of December 20 after aborting a troubled takeoff at Denver International Airport, injuring 37 of the 115 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 737-500.

The airliner careened off the left side of runway 34 Right, crossing a field, a taxiway, and a service road, shearing off the landing gear and finally coming to rest at the bottom of a wide, shallow ravine nearly 2,000 feet off the end of the runway.

All of the injured have since been released from the hospital, including the pilot. The NTSB is still investigating the incident, with a final report not expected for a year.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.continental.com