30 Years Today, Air Florida

[Turtle21]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/30-years-after-air-florida-crash-skies-safer-than-ever/2012/01/05/gIQAW0GwtP_story.html

 

[zonejumper]

Wow, 30 years! That was a horrible day for air travel (I was flying from ORF to JFK and got diverted to EWR) and didn't know what happened in DC until I landed. I was horrified at that crash and the terrible loss of life. The heroics exhibited that day were incredible, though.

 

[KNOTS]

Very sad--- we have to remember what we do can be dangerous. (I find many pilots are so used to their jobs, so experienced, they lose sight of how dangerous it actual is if not done right)

 

[ArcadiaMaxima]

I think the FO on that flight sons fly for SWA. Sad incident.

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[Mercyful Fate]

A very sad incident...However, the amount of lessons learned from that particular flight has improved safety in so many areas

 

[SWA Bubba]

I think the FO on that flight sons fly for SWA. Sad incident.

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Palm 90's Captain was Larry Wheaton, and the flight's F/O was Roger Pettit. F/O Pettit's two sons Jason and Cory, who were about 7 and 9 at the time of the accident, are now both Southwest F/Os, both hired in 2004.

Bubba

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Palm 90's Captain was Larry Wheaton, and the flight's F/O was Roger Pettit. F/O Pettit's two sons Jason and Cory, who were about 7 and 9 at the time of the accident, are now both Southwest F/Os, both hired in 2004.

Bubba

There's an interesting angle to the story.

 

[dougdrvr]

When I watched that little Bell maneuver over the Potomac that day, I said to myself, "That's got to be a Vietnam era, Army trained helicopter pilot", and turns out he was!

 

[charlie2]

Sad day. Whenever I read "Anti Ice" on the taxi checklist I think of that.

 

[waveflyer]

Rest in peace
Aviation history is written in blood- never forget the lessons and be humble in the knowledge that we fly safely today bc of those who died in the past- and maybe the next lessons could come from us(?)
To his sons, prayers for peace today. it has to be hard

 

[Dan Roman]

Three a/c landed after Palm 90 went in before they closed DCA, a EAL flt, a USAir flt and a Henson (now Peidmont ) SD3-30. I was the F/O on that 330. The controller asked the EAL guy ahead of us to roll out to the end and tell them what he saw as "we think we lost an airplane out there".
While waiting in the old commuter terminal and watching it live on tv, an Air Florida FA standing next to me watched in shock. He told me he had been on that flight working with the crew inbound and had been released early as they had one more FA than necessary and was planning on commuting back to DCA.
We ended up busing back to SBY and arriving after midnight at the end of a day that started at 6 am. Very sad day indeed.

 

[On Your Six]

I talked to an Ex- Pan Am guy (now a 767ER Captain) who was the FO on a Pan Am 727 who had just landed prior to that plane taking off. He was taxiing back to the gate in that heavy snow and said the tower was trying to figure out what had happened to Palm 90, the AF 737. Crazy stuff.


Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[Dan Roman]

I talked to an Ex- Pan Am guy (now a 767ER Captain) who was the FO on a Pan Am 727 who had just landed prior to that plane taking off. He was taxiing back to the gate in that heavy snow and said the tower was trying to figure out what had happened to Palm 90, the AF 737. Crazy stuff.


Godspeed!


The OYSter

I remember an unusually large amount of snow that day for DCA. When they asked the EAL guy if he saw anything I remember they replyed, no, but we see tracks in the snow that look like they go off the end of the runway.

 

[JumpersAway]

.....................observed with much respect, sorrow, and learned experience through someone else's misfortune. For but the grace of God go I............