Air Emergency

[AndrewHill]

I've never seen the show, Bruce, but I remember well that crash in Iowa, caught by a local TV news camera. I find it a little odd though that the passenger who helped out in the cockpit is getting all of the credit. What happened was that a fan in the center (tail) engine exploded, and ripped through the hydraulics. The pilot varied power to the right and left engines in order to steer the plane, and while I knew that a passenger had assisted on the flight deck, I don't recall any reports or TV shows that give Fitch the designation of ultimate hero of the flight. The pilot has gotten all of the accolades (not to imply Fitch doesn't deserve some) and even joked with the ATC when he was told that he had clearance for Runway 22 by saying, "oh, you want to be particular about it and make it a specific runway" or something like that.

Also, of 296 passengers and crew, 184 lived, a much greater proportion than you remembered.

Let me just say at this point that in searching for info, I found this web page which has a very informative article written by the captain about what allowed them to get the aircraft down without killing everyone on board. His description of Fitch's contributions go like this:

... we were advised that Captain Dennis E. Fitch an instructor pilot for the DC-10 - was a passenger in our aircraft. Considering the aura that surrounds flight instructors we, naturally, invited him to the flight deck. Maybe he knew more about the systems than we did and could help us out of our dilemma. He arrived, took one look at the instrument panel and that was it that was the end of his knowledge, too. He also had not faced this situation before.

... I asked Fitch if he would go back into the cabin and look at the controls. He came back and said, "The controls aren't moving, how can I help now?" We were still struggling with the yoke and the throttles at the same time, and once again, out of the blue came a decision, "Take the throttles and operate them in response to our commands. Take one throttle lever in each hand - you can do it much smoother than we can and see if we can't smooth this thing out and get a little better control of the airplane". For the next 30 minutes, that is how we operated. And working together like that is how we flew the aircraft to Sioux city's Gateway Airport.

At one point, Fitch traded seats with Dvorak about the time we were ready to land. I said "Let's get ready for landing. Denny [Fitch], you sit here and strap yourself in". Then, Dvorak swung around into a position where he could reach the throttles, and began to manipulate them. Fitch had been handling the throttles for about 20 minutes and he had a feel for what it took to give us what we needed. Dvorak, of course, did not have the benefit of that practice. He responded according to our calls such as "we need a wing up", "need to add power", and Fitch was adding adjustment commands like "you need a little more", "that's not enough", or "we need a little less turn", "you need a little more turn".

It soon became obvious that, although Dvorak was the regular crew member of the two, Fitch had developed a level of expertise at this entirely new skill. In another instance that illustrated the benefits of CRM, at Dvorak's suggestion, we decided it was better that Fitch sit by the throttle controls because he had been doing it. Dvorak got up and gave Fitch his seat and Dvorak took the seat behind me, the jump seat. That is why the deadheading Captain was sitting in the Second Officer's seat when we landed.

So, I don't want to take away from Fitch, the flight crew needed all the help they could to control the plane and he helped a great deal. But it sounds like because he was the source for the TV show, the impression might have been given that he was the sole reason that there were survivors. I think its fair to say that the entire flight crew, led by the Captain, had a big part in that also.

Is that Iowa crash footage available on line? Sounds incredible that someone managed to capture it on film.

I'm surprised if you've never seen it, it was seen so much back when it happened. I found this link through Wikipedia:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=52...mp;q=flight+232

Thanks for the link, but nope, never seen it.

[AndrewHill]

I'm abosutely amazed anyone survived that! It looks like it was also the subject for an episode of "Seconds From Disaster." That same link also has clips from various Air Emergency episodes too. Thanks again for the link

Edited November 7, 2007 by Holy Ghost

[BruceH]

I've never seen the show, Bruce, but I remember well that crash in Iowa, caught by a local TV news camera. I find it a little odd though that the passenger who helped out in the cockpit is getting all of the credit. What happened was that a fan in the center (tail) engine exploded, and ripped through the hydraulics. The pilot varied power to the right and left engines in order to steer the plane, and while I knew that a passenger had assisted on the flight deck, I don't recall any reports or TV shows that give Fitch the designation of ultimate hero of the flight. The pilot has gotten all of the accolades (not to imply Fitch doesn't deserve some) and even joked with the ATC when he was told that he had clearance for Runway 22 by saying, "oh, you want to be particular about it and make it a specific runway" or something like that.

Also, of 296 passengers and crew, 184 lived, a much greater proportion than you remembered.

Let me just say at this point that in searching for info, I found this web page which has a very informative article written by the captain about what allowed them to get the aircraft down without killing everyone on board. His description of Fitch's contributions go like this:

... we were advised that Captain Dennis E. Fitch an instructor pilot for the DC-10 - was a passenger in our aircraft. Considering the aura that surrounds flight instructors we, naturally, invited him to the flight deck. Maybe he knew more about the systems than we did and could help us out of our dilemma. He arrived, took one look at the instrument panel and that was it that was the end of his knowledge, too. He also had not faced this situation before.

... I asked Fitch if he would go back into the cabin and look at the controls. He came back and said, "The controls aren't moving, how can I help now?" We were still struggling with the yoke and the throttles at the same time, and once again, out of the blue came a decision, "Take the throttles and operate them in response to our commands. Take one throttle lever in each hand - you can do it much smoother than we can and see if we can't smooth this thing out and get a little better control of the airplane". For the next 30 minutes, that is how we operated. And working together like that is how we flew the aircraft to Sioux city's Gateway Airport.

At one point, Fitch traded seats with Dvorak about the time we were ready to land. I said "Let's get ready for landing. Denny [Fitch], you sit here and strap yourself in". Then, Dvorak swung around into a position where he could reach the throttles, and began to manipulate them. Fitch had been handling the throttles for about 20 minutes and he had a feel for what it took to give us what we needed. Dvorak, of course, did not have the benefit of that practice. He responded according to our calls such as "we need a wing up", "need to add power", and Fitch was adding adjustment commands like "you need a little more", "that's not enough", or "we need a little less turn", "you need a little more turn".

It soon became obvious that, although Dvorak was the regular crew member of the two, Fitch had developed a level of expertise at this entirely new skill. In another instance that illustrated the benefits of CRM, at Dvorak's suggestion, we decided it was better that Fitch sit by the throttle controls because he had been doing it. Dvorak got up and gave Fitch his seat and Dvorak took the seat behind me, the jump seat. That is why the deadheading Captain was sitting in the Second Officer's seat when we landed.

So, I don't want to take away from Fitch, the flight crew needed all the help they could to control the plane and he helped a great deal. But it sounds like because he was the source for the TV show, the impression might have been given that he was the sole reason that there were survivors. I think its fair to say that the entire flight crew, led by the Captain, had a big part in that also.

Quite so; my memory of the episode is probably not 100%. I recommend it though.

[Dan Gould]

I've never seen the show, Bruce, but I remember well that crash in Iowa, caught by a local TV news camera. I find it a little odd though that the passenger who helped out in the cockpit is getting all of the credit. What happened was that a fan in the center (tail) engine exploded, and ripped through the hydraulics. The pilot varied power to the right and left engines in order to steer the plane, and while I knew that a passenger had assisted on the flight deck, I don't recall any reports or TV shows that give Fitch the designation of ultimate hero of the flight. The pilot has gotten all of the accolades (not to imply Fitch doesn't deserve some) and even joked with the ATC when he was told that he had clearance for Runway 22 by saying, "oh, you want to be particular about it and make it a specific runway" or something like that.

Also, of 296 passengers and crew, 184 lived, a much greater proportion than you remembered.

Let me just say at this point that in searching for info, I found this web page which has a very informative article written by the captain about what allowed them to get the aircraft down without killing everyone on board. His description of Fitch's contributions go like this:

... we were advised that Captain Dennis E. Fitch an instructor pilot for the DC-10 - was a passenger in our aircraft. Considering the aura that surrounds flight instructors we, naturally, invited him to the flight deck. Maybe he knew more about the systems than we did and could help us out of our dilemma. He arrived, took one look at the instrument panel and that was it that was the end of his knowledge, too. He also had not faced this situation before.

... I asked Fitch if he would go back into the cabin and look at the controls. He came back and said, "The controls aren't moving, how can I help now?" We were still struggling with the yoke and the throttles at the same time, and once again, out of the blue came a decision, "Take the throttles and operate them in response to our commands. Take one throttle lever in each hand - you can do it much smoother than we can and see if we can't smooth this thing out and get a little better control of the airplane". For the next 30 minutes, that is how we operated. And working together like that is how we flew the aircraft to Sioux city's Gateway Airport.

At one point, Fitch traded seats with Dvorak about the time we were ready to land. I said "Let's get ready for landing. Denny [Fitch], you sit here and strap yourself in". Then, Dvorak swung around into a position where he could reach the throttles, and began to manipulate them. Fitch had been handling the throttles for about 20 minutes and he had a feel for what it took to give us what we needed. Dvorak, of course, did not have the benefit of that practice. He responded according to our calls such as "we need a wing up", "need to add power", and Fitch was adding adjustment commands like "you need a little more", "that's not enough", or "we need a little less turn", "you need a little more turn".

It soon became obvious that, although Dvorak was the regular crew member of the two, Fitch had developed a level of expertise at this entirely new skill. In another instance that illustrated the benefits of CRM, at Dvorak's suggestion, we decided it was better that Fitch sit by the throttle controls because he had been doing it. Dvorak got up and gave Fitch his seat and Dvorak took the seat behind me, the jump seat. That is why the deadheading Captain was sitting in the Second Officer's seat when we landed.

So, I don't want to take away from Fitch, the flight crew needed all the help they could to control the plane and he helped a great deal. But it sounds like because he was the source for the TV show, the impression might have been given that he was the sole reason that there were survivors. I think its fair to say that the entire flight crew, led by the Captain, had a big part in that also.

Quite so; my memory of the episode is probably not 100%. I recommend it though.

Watching the clip, you think "if only" because it looks like they might make it down in one piece but reading the Captain's narrative, you realize how lucky they were. They started one of the downward cycles they were dealing with for the last forty minutes of the flight and that's why they hit when they did - and its amazing to think that a large portion of the plane stayed intact when you read that normal landing speed is 140 knots and they were flying at 210, and normal rate of ascent is 300 feet a minute and they were at nearly 2000!

[clifford_thornton]

Haven't seen this show, and due to my fear of flying, it probably isn't a good idea to watch!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=52...mp;q=flight+232

Don't click the link, CT!

Tempting, but... I'll pass.

[AllenLowe]

than there's the one where the priest and the rabbi were sharing a sermon in an earthquake zone; there was a giant quake. a mud slide, and than a flood; the rabbi went sliding out on a piece of matzoh; the priest grabbed a communion wafter and held out for dear life; the rabbi survived due to the fact that he was using egg matzoh, which, ironically or not, floats and resists molecular dissolution; the priest drowned when the communion wafer, bought at bulk discount from Christian Brothers House of Church Food, dissolved - and later it was learned that the shipment from which this wafer taken had been recalled due to poor engineering and the failure of many of the wafers to withstand the stress of constant foot traffic -

Edited November 25, 2007 by AllenLowe

[Dan Gould]

A really wild "Air Emergency" is on right now - the story of a suicidal FedEx flight engineer, who hitched a ride on a flight he wasn't scheduled for, with the intention of attacking the flight crew and dying in the resulting crash. He even twice turned the circuit breaker off for the cockpit flight recorder - hoping that if the sounds of the struggle aren't recorded, investigators won't know what he did (he did it twice because the engineer noticed it both times and flipped it back on).

The attack was so brutal its remarkable that the flight crew survived.

[AndrewHill]

A really wild "Air Emergency" is on right now - the story of a suicidal FedEx flight engineer, who hitched a ride on a flight he wasn't scheduled for, with the intention of attacking the flight crew and dying in the resulting crash. He even twice turned the circuit breaker off for the cockpit flight recorder - hoping that if the sounds of the struggle aren't recorded, investigators won't know what he did (he did it twice because the engineer noticed it both times and flipped it back on).

The attack was so brutal its remarkable that the flight crew survived.

I remember this one from a couple of years ago I think! Yes, this one is absolutely insane!

[AndrewHill]

It seems that NatGO are producing new Air Emergency episodes. Saw one last night that seemed to tie in older episodes into a new one (when components fail) based around the routine check of a SW Airline. That part was not that interesting. There's a new one tonight though (who's flying the plane) which seems to be completely new and not based on older episodes. Saw one this morning too which I don't recall seeing (out of control plane I tnhink it was called) which was about a Japanese Airline 747 who lost their tail wing due to a maintenance mistake (part of the episode shown last night but just tied in to the routine checkover theme). The new one is at 7pm and 2am.

On another note, has anyone seen Locked Up Abroad? That show is pretty cool...well cool if you're not the one being arrested

[Dan Gould]

It seems that NatGO are producing new Air Emergency episodes. Saw one last night that seemed to tie in older episodes into a new one (when components fail) based around the routine check of a SW Airline. That part was not that interesting. There's a new one tonight though (who's flying the plane) which seems to be completely new and not based on older episodes. Saw one this morning too which I don't recall seeing (out of control plane I tnhink it was called) which was about a Japanese Airline 747 who lost their tail wing due to a maintenance mistake (part of the episode shown last night but just tied in to the routine checkover theme). The new one is at 7pm and 2am.

Thanks for the head's up on tonight's new episode. I can't think of any accident where human control vs autopilot was an issue so I am curious what it will cover. Of course, it could be one of those air emergencies that don't end in disaster and didn't get a lot of media attention. I did catch the last half of "Out of Control" - reminded me of the episode where the maintenance personnel used the wrong size bolt and the windscreen blew out and nearly sucked the pilot out of the aircraft.

[AndrewHill]

Saw the new one tonight and it seemed to have the same theme as last night except there was a considerable amount of stories that I don't recall seeing before. Some of those segments were pretty intense. Tomorrow night will have feature an episode from January, which is new for me; I didn't even know there was a new one this year, let alone the ones from last night and tonight.

[Dan Gould]

Saw the new one tonight and it seemed to have the same theme as last night except there was a considerable amount of stories that I don't recall seeing before. Some of those segments were pretty intense. Tomorrow night will have feature an episode from January, which is new for me; I didn't even know there was a new one this year, let alone the ones from last night and tonight.

I don't know where my mind was at but my wife put on Law & Order as we sat down to dinner and I had a complete brain cramp. Hopefully they'll re-run this one soon. When they were running Seconds from Disaster last year in prime time, the new episodes seemed to run the next week during the day.

[AndrewHill]

Saw the new one tonight and it seemed to have the same theme as last night except there was a considerable amount of stories that I don't recall seeing before. Some of those segments were pretty intense. Tomorrow night will have feature an episode from January, which is new for me; I didn't even know there was a new one this year, let alone the ones from last night and tonight.

I don't know where my mind was at but my wife put on Law & Order as we sat down to dinner and I had a complete brain cramp. Hopefully they'll re-run this one soon. When they were running Seconds from Disaster last year in prime time, the new episodes seemed to run the next week during the day.

Its on again at 2am

[Dan Gould]

I saw that in your original post but I don't have a DVR and I'm not about to stay up that late.

[AndrewHill]

Dan,

Tonight's episode (crash in the Red sea) was featured in last night's show, so you'll at least catch some of last night's episode tonight

I think there's an AE on every night this week because there's another one tomorrow at 7 (although I think we've seen this one; its the bomb that went off on a plane in the Phillipines).

[AndrewHill]

Here's a link at Nat GO of all past episodes.

http://google.nationalgeographic.com/searc...q=air+emergency

[Dan Gould]

Here's a link at Nat GO of all past episodes.

http://google.nationalgeographic.com/searc...q=air+emergency

Looks like an interesting episode Friday night, about two separate crashes of 737s. And there's no description but I have no clue what "Mistaken Identity" could be about - and why the heck do they have an episode of "Air Emergency" with this description:

The National Geographic Channel goes Out of Control to explore the technological advancements that make our roadways safe. Follow state police officers to learn some of the specialized techniques used to apprehend a fleeing vehicle. Study the amazing stopping power of runaway truck ramps and examine the science and safety measures implemented in the cement median. At any given moment an automobile can go out of control but thanks to modern science, we have what it takes to shut them down.

******************

It was definitely an interesting story last night - when they mentioned the moonless night, I had an immediate suspicion that a flight illusion, i.e., disorientation and a loss of situation awareness would play a role in the accident. So ironic that if the mechanical failure had happened in daylight, it almost certainly would have been nothing worse than an emergency return to the airport.

[AndrewHill]

"QUOTE

The National Geographic Channel goes Out of Control to explore the technological advancements that make our roadways safe. Follow state police officers to learn some of the specialized techniques used to apprehend a fleeing vehicle. Study the amazing stopping power of runaway truck ramps and examine the science and safety measures implemented in the cement median. At any given moment an automobile can go out of control but thanks to modern science, we have what it takes to shut them down."

Well maybe its a plane that's taxieing down the runway and perhaps the plane is taxieing faster than its supposed to, hence the highspeed chase of the fleeing plane, then we can juxtapose that scenario with an automobile and compare notes.

[AndrewHill]

Well funny enough, the same thing happen to me last night that happened to you on Wednesday. Around 6:45, my wife pops in a movie (Cloverfield) and the next thing I know its 8.

I think in Wednesday's episode they said that maybe the pilot suffered from a 'vertigo-like syndrome' where the pilot couldn't discern up from down, right from left. Like you said with the 'moonless' night, the pilot became disorientated and unfortanetely, we know what happened next.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Holy Ghost

[AndrewHill]

Another episode's on in 40mins

[Dan Gould]

Another episode's on in 40mins

Wild first segment. I'm very curious what the investigation reveals.

[AndrewHill]

Yeah no kidding. I would've been petrified being in that plane.

[AndrewHill]

Deadly Components (5/12/08 episode) will be on today at 3pm.

[Dan Gould]

Deadly Components (5/12/08 episode) will be on today at 3pm.

And "Who is flying the plane?" is on Tuesday at 3 pm.

[Dan Gould]

I'm sure many remember the video from several years back of the plane ditching in the ocean just off the coast of an island southeast of Africa? Amazing video shot by a tourist? Well at 11 AM is the episode of Air Emergency on that crash, which was the result of the actions of some moronic hijackers. The plane took off from, I think, Ethiopia. Their destination was close enough that of course, they did not depart with full fuel tanks. But the hijackers, believing that a 767 has enough fuel for 11 hours of flight, stormed the cockpit and insisted that the pilot fly to Australia. He argued and he argued but they wouldn't listen. And he knew that if he flew toward Australia, they'd run out of fuel and ditch in the middle of the ocean. So while the hijackers finally forced him to fly over water - they could see land so they knew he wasn't obeying them - he remembered this island and basically tried to fly in circles over it. He held out hope that if he could convince them that the fuel was insufficient, they'd allow him to land at the island's airport, and if not, at least he could try to ditch the plane close to the island, and maybe rescuers could respond quickly.

You probably know the rest of the story - a not insignificant number of people survived, and it just so happened that a group of doctors were on the beach that day and so medical attention was literally 500 yards away. The sad thing is that there might have been many, many more survivors. The lesson is, if you are ever told to put on your life jacket, they also tell you not to inflate it until you escape the plane. But some people misunderstood what the Captain said, and pulled the cords. And when a group of people do that, and others aren't sure what they heard, they do it too. But when a life jacket hits the water, it wants to float - and it will pull you to the top of the cabin as the water fills. Other passengers died in their seats, the life jacket pulling them up with such force, they were caught in the seatbelt.

I think that the pilot of this aircraft was every bit the hero, maybe even moreso, than the guy who brought the crippled jet in for the landing at that Iowa airport.