sw plane goes off the rnway in mdw

[cappytan]

Unfortunately, times like this bring out the true colors in alot of us. It's pretty obvious the class-envy and jealousy towards the SWA of the world. It's human nature to feel that way when you see a company not only survive, but have the safety record they have (1 fatality in 35 years?). They might be called cowboys, but they obviously know how to ride a horse.

Just curious....were there any other arrivals before and right behind them during that period? Were they the ones trying the approach while everyone else was holding? I doubt it. If it wasn't them it may have been the next arrival. MDW is a challenge on the best of weather days. Definitely an accident waiting to happen. I can't tell you how many times I've had the tower yelling at me to expedite clearing with ATA crossing the numbers. Hey, my runway, I'll exit as safely as I can....when I can.

Just my two cents. An unfortunate accident indeed, one that we can learn from and remind ourselves how very unforgiving Mother Nature can be.

Aviation is not weather-proof.

Wow, another bonehead comment!!! I guess you know first hand because you are employed by SWA??? Shut the **** up and stick to topics you know about.

 

[furloughednow psa]

YOur very first post. How nice. Care to let us in on who you fly for so we can critique your pilots actions during their next accident? There but for the Grace of God go you.

your such an a**hole

 

[KCFlyer]

your such an a**hole

I'm not the one gloating over a fatal accident, you and the newbie are. And IMHO, that type of behaviour epitomizes the definition of a**hole.

 

[luvthe9]

Actually, a B737 lands at that speed most of the time....that is only 132 knots and with a 5 knot tailwind that means 128 knots.

WHERE the jet hit the ground at 132 knots groundspeed will tell the tale of whether this was a pilot issue or a runway surface/mechanical issue.

Boomer

CNN said flight recorder data showed touchdown speed of 152knts, also noticed he did not use flaps 40 I think

 

[BoeingBoy]

CNN said flight recorder data showed touchdown speed of 152knts

They got it wrong, then. According to the NTSB spokeswoman at the afternoon press conference (and she repeated it at least once for the reporters) the touchdown airspeed was 124 kts. With the wind 090/10, that equates to a 132 kt groundspeed or 152 mph.

Jim

 

[goingboeing]

They got it wrong, then. According to the NTSB spokeswoman at the afternoon press conference (and she repeated it at least once for the reporters) the touchdown airspeed was 124 kts. With the wind 090/10, that equates to a 132 kt groundspeed or 152 mph.

Jim

What is the "NORMAL" touchdown speed for that particular B-737?
[Clear weather-dry runway]

 

[goingboeing]

As a 20 year AA employee[AMT] I still admire SWA safety record.I do not consider your record blemished because there were no passenger fatalities onboard the aircraft.

AA had a very good safety record between 1979-1995 with no fatal crashes and now the last 10 years it has been dismal at best.
1979- DC-10 crash at ORD

No fatal crashes

1995- B-757 crash at Cali,Columbia.[collision with mountain]
1999- MD-80 runway overun at Little Rock[thunderstorm]
2001- A-300 at NYC due to structural failure[vertical stabilizer]

SWA employees need to keep your heads high because you still have a great safety record.
Merry Christmas!

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

Another thing - SWA often has lower minimums than other carriers because of the capabilites of their heads up displays. He said they even have special lower CAT I minimums (1800 instead of 2400)at some airports than other carriers with coupled equipment due to the characteristics of the heads up guidance system.

I once was lucky enough to ride jumpseat on a US MD-80, shortly after the PSA/US merger. The captain showed me the HUD system and told me how great it was. Not long after that, US removed the HUDs from the MD-80 fleet! BTW, the current issue of Airways magazine has cool "trip report" by an Alaska Airlines pilot in which he describes the HUD system.

I should add that I am disappointed indeed at the WAG (wild arsed guesses) and speculation by some posters on this thread along the likes of "cowboy attitudes" and such. Not to mention crude jokes about "door side drop off". This board is a community for people who know about and love avaition, be they customers or insiders. Grow up people. Or get thee to the yahoo discussion boards.

 

[traderjake]

As a 20 year AA employee[AMT] I still admire SWA safety record.I do not consider your record blemished because there were no passenger fatalities onboard the aircraft.

Why does a dead innocent bystander on ground not count?

I think the boy's family would disagree with you.

 

[goingboeing]

Why does a dead innocent bystander on ground not count?

I think the boy's family would disagree with you.

There were no fatalities ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT.
The tragic loss of the young boy does matter but does not fit into aircraft fatality.
If his car had been hit by a train instead of a plane would it be considered a railroad fatality or an automobile fatality?

My posting NEVER diminished the loss of the young boy but dealt with statistics.

Joe Friday"Just the facts,Mam'.

 

[swflyer]

How about some talk about what's REALLY going on. Thanks for the right words, Gary.

Chicago Tribune


THE MIDWAY RUNWAY ACCIDENT

Southwest response called swift, caring
CEO takes the lead in facing the public

By John Schmeltzer, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporter Mark Skertic contributed to this report
Published December 10, 2005


Even though Thursday's accident at Midway Airport marked the first fatality involving a Southwest Airlines flight in the carrier's 35-year history, industry observers said the company offered a coordinated, polished response.

In a departure from reactions by other carriers involved in fatal accidents, Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly expressed the airline's condolences within hours of the accident, in which one of its 737s overran a runway and skidded onto a major street.

"There are absolutely no words to accurately state our grief and our sorrow over this tragedy," Kelly said Friday at the second of two news conferences. Kelly held the first news conference in Dallas, while the second was held upon his arrival in Chicago.

A 6-year-old boy died and at least 10 people were injured Thursday when Southwest Flight 1248 skidded into two cars on Central Avenue just south of 55th Street. The two streets form the western and northern boundaries, respectively, of the airport.

Kelly was aboard a second flight of Southwest employees arriving in Chicago to help coordinate the National Transportation Safety Board investigators and help provide care for passengers and injured motorists. The first flight, carrying 94 members of the airline's Go Team, arrived at 3:25 a.m., a little more than eight hours after the accident.

Southwest's response has set a new standard for how airlines will deal with crisis, said Pete Wentz, an executive vice president with APCO Worldwide's Chicago office.

"They stepped right in front, right away," Wentz said. "Their CEO was right out front, right away. That's unique."

Such a move comes with risks. In a crisis, companies often put less senior officers in the spotlight.

"Generally, the CEO doesn't want his name attached to the event or saying things that you realize a month later weren't the right things to say," Wentz said.

"Southwest's move, with the CEO out front, shows a real commitment. He was saying the right things, and expressing the appropriate amount of sympathy to the family."

Kelly's involvement is a step that hasn't been seen before, according to those who have been members of accident response teams for other airlines, including the Sioux City, Iowa, emergency landing of United Airlines Flight 232, in which 184 of the 296 people aboard survived.

"Stephen Wolf was there, and he went to the hospital and met with family members and some employees, but he didn't hold a press conference," said one person who was a member of the United response team. At the time, Wolf was chairman and CEO of United.

Steven Fink, president of Lexicon Communications Inc. of Pasadena, Calif., said Southwest may be writing a new chapter in crisis management books.

"I must say I was impressed," said Fink. "I think they are doing everything right so far.

"When you do have a fatality, it is the responsibility to step up to the plate. Maybe new ground has been broken for the airlines."

Ed Stewart, a spokesman for the Dallas-based airline, said it was Kelly's decision to take the lead.

"He wants to be the face of Southwest," Stewart said.

Like other airlines, Southwest has a crisis manual that details its response, Stewart said.

Not only is Kelly here coordinating Southwest's response, but many of the airline's other department heads are here.

"We take this so seriously that we want to send our top officers to oversee this," Stewart said.

He said Joyce Rogge, the airline's senior vice president of marketing, is in charge of the carrier's passenger-care team, which is a group of people assigned to meet individually with each passenger and make sure their concerns are handled.

"They have experienced something we didn't want our customers to be involved with," said Stewart, explaining the carrier's efforts.

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

They got it wrong, then. According to the NTSB spokeswoman at the afternoon press conference (and she repeated it at least once for the reporters) the touchdown airspeed was 124 kts. With the wind 090/10, that equates to a 132 kt groundspeed or 152 mph.

Jim

I am shocked, shocked, that a cable news channel, (be it CNN, Fox, CNBC, they are all pretty bad) could get an aviation related stort wrong!!

[I remember one of them reporting that an airliner involved in an accident (AS off Pt Mugu?) had recieved an "A" on its most recent mtc check, but only a "C" on a check a few months before! ]


BTW, did anyone see Jon Stewart's highlights of the cable news channels idiotic initial "reporting" of the guy being shot by the air marshalls in MIA. Don't get me wrong, I am truly sorry that someone got killed, but the Daily Show had me in stitches!!

 

[N924PS]

This article is another example of why Southwest Airlines is the most successful airline in the US and perhaps the world.

Leadership from the top at its best. And I'm certain his comments were offered with utmost sincerity and compassion.

My airline suffered a tragic FIVE major accidents in only 5 years. I would say Southwest's safety record over its 35 year history, given the number of takeoffs and landings where most accidents occur, is nothing short of phenomenal.

Kudos to Mr. Kelly and the employees of Southwest airlines for their professionalism and humanity.

**Moderators Note: Please do not quote the entire post when replying.**

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

There were no fatalities ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

Joe Friday"Just the facts,Mam'.

I know that someone will correct me if I am wrong. but I think the gov't considers this as a fatal accident for the airline in the same way as if ramper is struck by a plane. Sonmeone was killed as result of being in contact with aircraft.

 

[lovedandlost]

I'm new here, great forum, lots of good info and opinions (some stupid crap, too).

This approach would have been illegal at my company in our 737NG (-800). We are restricted to 5 knots of tailwind when braking action is fair and 0 knots of tailwind when braking action is poor. Our books are "Boeing books," whatever that means. They contain info applicable to the 6,7,8, and 900; though we only fly the 800. If Boeing is the source of the restriction (and I don't know that it is), seems likely that the approach was illegal for Southwest.

The thing I'm really curious about is why Southwest discourages autobrakes. I did max last night on a cluttered 6000 runway. Though physically possible, I know there's no way I could have stopped that quickly on my own. What gives?