Comair Flight 5191

[Jakey]

Anyone been following the news today about this plane crash?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210650,00.html

In today's modern world, I don't quite follow how a plane can wind up taking off from the wrong runway. Then again I'm not exactly an aviation expert so who knows. The University of Kentucky official who was killed was Dr. Larry Turner, Associate Dean for Extension at the University of Kentucky. His death kind of hits at home for me because he was an agricultural engineer at UKY and being that I had an agricultural engineering conference at UKY back in April of '05, I probably met him.

[Matt D.]

Originally Posted by Jakey

In today's modern world, I don't quite follow how a plane can wind up taking off from the wrong runway.

Pilot error and/or traffic controller error. It's the only possible explanation.

[9guy9]

As high tech as a moder airliner is they are still controlled by people. people make mistakes.

Although taking off from the wrong runway is kinda hard to do. theris giant numbers at the end of the runway you go over while positioning for take off. Also most runways have markers indicating heres only 500' of runway left. If this one had one they should have seen that and been hard on the brakes.

[Jana]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/30/plane.crash/index.html

Update - the not only went down the wrong runway, the were in the wrong plane to.

[DiSiM]

most likely air traffic control error

[Matt D.]

Originally Posted by DSMChick

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/30/plane.crash/index.html

Update - the not only went down the wrong runway, the were in the wrong plane to.

They were on the correct plane, the crew originally fired up the wrong plane before realizing the mistake.

[Jacek]

I'm going to chime in. I drive airbus 320s every night at o'hare down here and let me tell you, you can get lost very fast. The pilots are always getting lost. Pilot error is the largest human factor played in this who issue and its 100% their fault, but the person who should have caught it in time is the controller. The FAA admitted that there were suppose to be 2 controllers in the tower and keep in mind that the air traffic controllers work for the FAA. Him having his back turned, and looking at the airport diagram (it being a small airport) he should not have even had a reason to turn his back unless he started paperwork.
And sorry, an RJ cruising down the runway cannot stop in 500 feet. They made the right decision of trying to take off because most likely when they realized it, they were going to fast and it was too late. Only the cockpit voice recorder say.