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Initial analysis of the ] and the ] indicates the aircraft was cleared to take off from Runway 22, a 7,003-] (2,135 ]) strip used by most airline traffic at Lexington.<ref name="MSNBC">{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14540419/|publisher=]|accessdate=2006-08-27|date=]|title=49 dead in plane crash in Kentucky; 1 survives}}</ref> Instead, after the pilot confirmed "Runway 2-2," the aircraft began its takeoff roll on Runway 26, an unlit secondary runway just 3,500 ft (1,067 m) in length.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLEX#rwys | title=AirNav runway information for KLEX | publisher=AirNav | accessdate=2006-08-28}}</ref> The aircraft, weighing over 49,000 ]., rolled off the end of the runway as it needed a minimum of 3,586 feet (1,093 m) to take-off successfully{{fact}}. Upon leaving the runway, the aircraft clipped the airport boundary fence, cleared a ] fence, and became airborne after hitting a berm. The jet hit a group of trees, separating the ] and ] from the tail. The aircraft came to rest largely intact in an area less than half a mile (0.8 km) from the end of the runway. Most victims did not survive the impact; those who did, except for the survivor, were killed by the post-crash fire.{{fact}}<!-- specifically, a link to the coroner's report --> Initial analysis of the ] and the ] indicates the aircraft was cleared to take off from Runway 22, a 7,003-] (2,135 ]) strip used by most airline traffic at Lexington.<ref name="MSNBC">{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14540419/|publisher=]|accessdate=2006-08-27|date=]|title=49 dead in plane crash in Kentucky; 1 survives}}</ref> Instead, after the pilot confirmed "Runway 2-2," the aircraft began its takeoff roll on Runway 26, an unlit secondary runway just 3,500 ft (1,067 m) in length.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLEX#rwys | title=AirNav runway information for KLEX | publisher=AirNav | accessdate=2006-08-28}}</ref> The aircraft, weighing over 49,000 ]., rolled off the end of the runway as it needed a minimum of 3,586 feet (1,093 m) to take-off successfully{{fact}}. Upon leaving the runway, the aircraft clipped the airport boundary fence, cleared a ] fence, and became airborne after hitting a berm. The jet hit a group of trees, separating the ] and ] from the tail. The aircraft came to rest largely intact in an area less than half a mile (0.8 km) from the end of the runway. Most victims did not survive the impact; those who did, except for the survivor, were killed by the post-crash fire.{{fact}}<!-- specifically, a link to the coroner's report -->


Weather conditions at the time of the crash were not perfect but not difficult. Fog was present and a light rain was falling. These factors, along with the pre-dawn darkness, would have required the pilots to use their instruments for takeoff.{{fact}} Instrument readings would have indicated that they were on the wrong runway. According to the NTSB, the pilot and co-pilot discussed the fact that the runway lights were out, but this did not cause them to consider that they were using a shorter, daylight-only runway.{{fact}} <!-- this should be easily citable --> The sole air traffic controller on duty that morning was responsible for clearing flights and issuing weather forecasts, and was not responsible for assuring that flights were on their appropriate runways. The NTSB said that an additional controller would be added to the overnight weekend shift beginning immediately.{{fact}}<!-- this should also be easily citable --> Fog was present and a light rain was falling. These factors, along with the pre-dawn darkness, would have required the pilots to use their instruments for takeoff.{{fact}} Instrument readings would have indicated that they were on the wrong runway. According to the NTSB, the pilot and co-pilot discussed the fact that the runway lights were out, but this did not cause them to consider that they were using a shorter, daylight-only runway.{{fact}} <!-- this should be easily citable --> The sole air traffic controller on duty that morning was responsible for clearing flights and issuing weather forecasts, and was not responsible for assuring that flights were on their appropriate runways. The NTSB said that an additional controller would be added to the overnight weekend shift beginning immediately.{{fact}}<!-- this should also be easily citable -->


==Victims== ==Victims==

Revision as of 17:10, 29 August 2006

Comair Flight 191
Occurrence
DateAugust 27, 2006
Summarycrashed shortly after take-off
SiteLexington, Kentucky
Aircraft typeBombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) CRJ-100ER
OperatorComair (as Delta Connection)
RegistrationN431CA
Passengers47
Crew3
Fatalities49
Injuries1
Survivors1

Comair Flight 191 (OH191/COM191) was a flight from Lexington, Kentucky to Atlanta, Georgia operated on behalf of Delta Connection by Comair. On August 27, 2006, around 6:07 a.m. local time, a Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet flying the route crashed after attempting to take off from the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport, Lexington. The first officer was the only survivor among the 47 passengers and three crew on board. The flight was scheduled to land at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 7:18 a.m. local time.

The flight was sold under the Delta brand, as Delta Flight 5191 (DL5191/DAL5191) and has also been referred to in media and NTSB reports as Comair Flight 5191.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved, N431CA, was a 50-seat Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-100ER, serial number 7472. Manufactured in Canada in January 2001, it was delivered to the airline on January 30, 2001.

Crash

  Approximate crash site location   Runway 4/22   Runway 8/26

Initial analysis of the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder indicates the aircraft was cleared to take off from Runway 22, a 7,003-foot (2,135 metre) strip used by most airline traffic at Lexington. Instead, after the pilot confirmed "Runway 2-2," the aircraft began its takeoff roll on Runway 26, an unlit secondary runway just 3,500 ft (1,067 m) in length. The aircraft, weighing over 49,000 lbs., rolled off the end of the runway as it needed a minimum of 3,586 feet (1,093 m) to take-off successfully. Upon leaving the runway, the aircraft clipped the airport boundary fence, cleared a barbed wire fence, and became airborne after hitting a berm. The jet hit a group of trees, separating the fuselage and cockpit from the tail. The aircraft came to rest largely intact in an area less than half a mile (0.8 km) from the end of the runway. Most victims did not survive the impact; those who did, except for the survivor, were killed by the post-crash fire.

Fog was present and a light rain was falling. These factors, along with the pre-dawn darkness, would have required the pilots to use their instruments for takeoff. Instrument readings would have indicated that they were on the wrong runway. According to the NTSB, the pilot and co-pilot discussed the fact that the runway lights were out, but this did not cause them to consider that they were using a shorter, daylight-only runway. The sole air traffic controller on duty that morning was responsible for clearing flights and issuing weather forecasts, and was not responsible for assuring that flights were on their appropriate runways. The NTSB said that an additional controller would be added to the overnight weekend shift beginning immediately.

Victims

There were 50000 people on board; all 47 passengers perished along with two of the three crew members.

The crew consisted of Captain Jeffrey Clay, 35, who was hired by Comair in November 1999, First Officer James M. Polehinke, 44, who was hired in March 2002, and flight attendant Kelly Heyer, 27, hired in July 2004. Comair president Don Bornhorst stated in a press conference that Clay was very familiar with the aircraft.

Passengers included Jon Hooker, a former University of Kentucky and minor league baseball player, and his wife, Scarlett Parsley, a Centre College graduate. They were married the night before the crash and were on the flight as the first leg of their honeymoon trip to California. Pat Smith, who worked for Lexington's Habitat for Humanity, and was 2004 Humanities National Volunteer of the Year, also perished in the crash.

Canadians Lyle and Christina Anderson were also among the dead, according to Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs. Japan's Foreign Ministry announced that two Japanese, Tetsuya and Nahoko Kono, were killed in the crash.

Only a few friends and family members of the passengers were present at the Atlanta airport at the time of the crash, since most of the victims had planned to connect to other flights en route to their destinations. The sister of one victim had planned to fly with the victim on a connecting flight so the two could go on an Alaskan cruise.

Survivor

First Officer James M. Polehinke, who was flying the plane, was pulled from the wreckage by Lexington-Fayette Police Department Officer Bryan Jared and two airport security workers, Pete Maupin and John Sallee. As of August 29, 2006 he is in critical condition at the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Medical Center, where he underwent surgery for his injuries. Officer Jared suffered burns on his arms while pulling him out of the wreckage.

Similar accidents

  • In 1993, a jet at Blue Grass Airport was cleared for takeoff on Runway 22 but mistakenly took Runway 26 instead. ATC saw the error and cancelled the aircraft's takeoff clearance before the pilot began the takeoff roll.

References

  1. ^ "NTSB: Crashed jet used shorter runway". CNN. 2006-08-27. Retrieved 2006-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. "FAA Registry (N431CA)". Federal Aviation Administration.
  3. "Comair provides updated information regarding Flight 5191" (Press release). Comair. 2006-08-27. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  4. ^ "Comair Confirms One Survivor in Kentucky Crash". IBS. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  5. "49 dead in plane crash in Kentucky; 1 survives". MSNBC. 2006-08-27. Retrieved 2006-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. "AirNav runway information for KLEX". AirNav. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  7. "[[Joliet JackHammers]] Statement". August 28 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  8. "Newlywed Baseball Player Dead In Crash". CBS News. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  9. "Crash victims". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
  10. "Jet taxi route changed a week before crash: airport director". CBC News. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  11. "2 Japanese die in Kentucky plane crash". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  12. Jeffrey McMurray, "Crash Probe: Ky. Runway Route Changed", Associated Press, 2006-08-29
  13. Jeffrey McMurray, "Lone Comair survivor pulled from plane", Houston Chronicle, 2006-08-27
  14. "Crashed plane took off from wrong runway". The Associated Press. 2006-08-27. Retrieved 2006-08-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. "Probable cause report of Lear Jet crash". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 2006-08-27.

See also

External links

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