Colgan DHC-8 crashed in Buffalo

[Jpmkam]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal officials said Tuesday they will beef up inspection of pilot training programs at regional airlines in response to safety concerns raised by the crash of a regional airliner in New York in February.


Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement they will also hold a meeting with the airline industry -- both regional and major carriers -- next week to seek better pilot training, cockpit discipline and other safety improvements.

Babbitt said it was clear from the crash of a regional airliner near Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 12 that safety needs to be improved.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FAA-to...8&asset=&ccode=

[shamrock]

NTSB Update via email.

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

********************** NTSB ADVISORY

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

*

National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

*

*

July 27, 2009

*

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

*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO COLGAN AIR DASH-8 PUBLIC DOCKET

*

*

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

*

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to make progress in its investigation into the crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 in Clarence Center, New York; according to NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker.* The Safety Board has released additional information in its public docket.

*

On February 12, 2009, about 10:17 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), a Colgan Air Inc., Bombardier Dash 8-Q400, N200WQ, d.b.a. Continental Connection flight 3407, crashed during an instrument approach to runway 23 at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York.* The crash site was approximately 5 nautical miles northeast of the airport in Clarence Center, New York, and mostly confined to one residential house.* The 4 crew members and 45 passengers were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.* There was one ground fatality.* Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 scheduled passenger flight from Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey to Buffalo.

*

Rosenker said the additional information released today includes an extended version of the cockpit voice recorder, an addendum to the Operations Group Chairman Factual Report, an addendum to the Human Performance Group Chairman Factual Report, and a Wreckage Diagram with Maps/Charts of the Accident Area.

*

The information being released is factual in nature and does not provide analysis or the probable cause of the accident. The docket includes investigative group factual reports, interview transcripts, and other documents from the investigation. Additional material will be added to the docket as it becomes available.

*

The public may view and download the docket contents via our web site under the "FOIA Reading Room" at http://www.ntsb.gov/Info/foia_fri-dockets.htm.*

*

-30-

*



[email protected]

*

[Arrow]

NTSB pins Buffalo crash on pilot error

[Jet-fighters.Net]

NTSB pins Buffalo crash on pilot error

Like we did not see that one coming

[Deadstick]

It's kind of a "duh" moment.

[Arrow]

It's kind of a "duh" moment.

Pretty much although what I found interesting was not so much the article so much as the comments wondering how someone with the responsibility level of a pilot is supposed to be living on the amount that these two (and their counterparts even now) were.

Maybe there'll be the realisation that the lowest price isn't always the best price

[Falconer]

Nothing will change. As log as pilots are willing to fly for a pittance, companies will set their salary levels to accommodate them.

When I flew for a regional (then called commuters) in the early 70s, co pilots' starting salary was $500 a month! An upgrade to captain got you $750 a month. There was no shortage of applicants, and like I said, it's not going to change.

[EconomyClass]

Usually when management economizes on the human skills, it backfills with sophisticated support technology. Looks like they economized in both places with predictable results. I once worked in the IT department of a hospital. We didn't get paid all that well (but apparently better than some pilots) but the systems we had minimized the required intervention and made very few errors that were easily corrected. Why should they have paid the people more than the pay of clerks?

[Falconer]

There's nothing wrong with the technology of the Q-400. You wouldn't believe the Twin Otters I flew in the early 70s. I flew single engine airplanes with more equipment than we had.

[TeeVee]

the whole thing is just plain sad.

[Arrow]

Why should they have paid the people more than the pay of clerks?

Because people typically don't die when clerks get it wrong because of fatigue.

[UncleFire]

Because people typically don't die when clerks get it wrong because of fatigue.

I think we was referring to the IT guys.

[EconomyClass]

I completely agree that they shouldn't have settled for underskilled pilots as an economy move. You don't want a bargain doctor operating on your brain and you don't want a bargain pilot flying the plane.

[starviego]

If you are an accident investigator, and you find that an airplane plunged to the ground because the engines suddenly failed, you cannot simply say ''the cause of this accident was engine failure.'' You have to find out why the engines failed.

And so it is with flt 3407. You can't simply say 'pilot error' without explaining why Capt Renslow, an experienced pilot, would make such an egregious and fundamental error of holding the yoke back until the aircraft stalled.

“That is very unusual behavior, and quite frankly, I can’t explain it,” said Tom Haueter, director of NTSB’s office of aviation safety.

Colgan spokesman Joe Williams said in a written statement. “But they knew what to do in the situation they faced that night a year ago, had repeatedly demonstrated they knew what to do, and yet did not do it. We cannot speculate on why they did not use their training in dealing with the situation they faced.”

In other words, they don’t know what caused the plane to crash.

[EconomyClass]

Were they passing a bottle around in the cockpit?