AIR FLORIDA FLIGHT 90 By JeanLuc Celestain Flight

AIR FLORIDA FLIGHT 90 By: Jean-Luc Celestain

Flight Details • Washington National Airport to Fort Lauderdale International Airport • January 13 th 1982 • Boeing 737 -200 (N 62 AF) • 74 passengers • 5 crewmembers • Heavy snow fall (6. 5’’ of snow) • Temperature was 24 °F • Visibility 1/4 to 5/8 miles

Cockpit Crew • Captain Larry Wheaton – 34 years old – 8, 300 total flights hours, 1700 flight hours in the 737 – Only 8 takeoff and landings in snowy conditions • First Officer Roger Pettit – 31 years old – 3, 400 total flight hours, 1, 000 flight hours in the 737 – Former F-15 fighter pilot – Only 2 takeoff and landings in snowy conditions

What Happened? • At 15: 59 EST, the plane began its takeoff roll – Took an extra 800 m to takeoff • Stalled shortly after lift-off • Struck the 14 th Street Bridge • Plunged into the Potomac River • 78 fatalities – 4 motorists on the ground • 5 survivors – 19 survived impact

What Caused the Accident? • Crew’s deviation from flight procedures – Using reverse thrusters at the gate – No engine anti-ice – Taxing close behind a DC-9 vs returning to the gate for de -icing • Ground crew incorrectly de-iced the aircraft • Delay after de-icing • Failure to abort takeoff • Poor communication • Crew’s inexperience

Aftermath • Series of directives to improve de-icing procedures • Made sure 1 experienced crew member on board • More attention given to LCC’s • Assess the unwritten tradition that captain was to never be questioned • Used as an example to properly train crews on proper communication