Pilots Noted Runway Was Not Lighted Seconds Before Crash
Transcripts released Wednesday by
the National Transportation Safety Board indicate the pilots of
Comair Flight 5191 knew something was unusual about their
early-morning takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY last
August 27.
According to cockpit voice recordings, 17 seconds before impact
copilot James Polehinke noted it was "weird" the runway they were
on had no lights. The captain, Jeffrey Clay, responded "Yeah."
As Aero-News reported, the
Comair RJ attempted takeoff from Runway 26 at Blue Grass, instead
of Runway 22 as instructed by the tower. At 3,500 feet, runway 26
is half the length of 22... and was too short for the fully-loaded
regional jet. Runway 26 is used only by smaller planes at Blue
Grass, and is not approved for nighttime operations.
In an eerie foreshadowing, the transcript shows Polehinke asked
Clay to verify the correct runway minutes before 5191 started its
takeoff roll, as part of preflight checks.
"Right seat flex takeoff procedures off of um ... he said what
runway? One of 'em. Two four," Polehinke notes.
"It's two two," Clay responds.
USA Today also notes the transcripts show Clay and Polehinke
failed to maintain a sterile cockpit during the taxi for takeoff,
discussing topics including their work conditions and families.
"Both kids were sick though, they, well they all got colds,"
Clay tells Polehinke while he taxied the aircraft for takeoff. "It
was an interesting dinner last night."
Clay lined the CRJ up on runway 22, and then turned the controls
over to Polehinke, who was the flying pilot.
According to the transcript, the last understandable words came
from Clay just one second before the crash, when he called out V-1
rotation speed, followed by a single word: "whoa."
The subsequent crash killed 49 of the 50 people onboard the
aircraft; Polehinke, the sole survivor, suffered brain damage and
had his left leg amputated following injuries sustained in the
accident.
Comair spokeswoman Kate Marx said the CVR transcript does not by
itself indict the plane's pilots in the crash, and notes the NTSB
has not issued its analysis of the accident.
"The transcript does make it clear the crew did not follow
Comair's sterile cockpit policy," said airline spokeswoman Kate
Marx. "Our policy does comply with FAA regulations... [W]hile
pilots did not follow the sterile cockpit policy, it is premature
to make conclusions regarding the role it may have played in the
accident."
Other documents released by the NTSB Wednesday show the tower
controller on duty at the time of the accident initially told
investigators he watched the plane taxi to the correct runway...
but later amended his statement to say he had not watched the plane
taxi to runway 26.
"After the review of my original personnel statement, I did not
watch Com191 take Ry. (Runway) 22," wrote controller Christopher
Damron. "I saw Com191's position on Twy (Taxiway) A, heading for
Rwy 22. I then cleared Com191 for takeoff. I saw Com191's lights
turning toward Rwy 22. I turned around to do the traffic count,
heard a crash and saw a fireball west of the airport."
The documents do not state what prompted Damron to change his
statement.