Air Florida Flight 90: 43 years ago, another airline crash in the Potomac. What to know.
Jim AbbottThis week’s tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342, which went down in a midair collision with a military helicopter about 400 feet above the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport, has revived memories of another deadly January crash more than 40 years ago in nearly the same spot.
At that time, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed on Jan. 13, 1982, immediately following take-off from what was then known Washington National Airport. Unfolding in icy, snowy conditions, the airliner’s collision with the 14th Street Bridge and resulting rescue efforts in the ice-covered Potomac River captured the attention of Washington and the nation.
It also raised questions about flight safety that ultimately lead to new regulations and procedures to address a string of crashes caused by ice buildup on planes.
Here’s what you need to know about the Air Florida crash, the most recent severe air travel accident in Washington, D.C., before Wednesday’s American Airlines accident in which 67 people are believed to have died.
Where was Air Florida Flight 90 headed? What kind of aircraft was it?
Air Florida Flight 90 was scheduled to depart from Washington National Airport (now Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) for Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, with an intermediate stopover at Tampa International Airport.
The aircraft was a Boeing 737-200, registered as N62AF. It was built in 1969 and previously flown by United Airlines before being sold to Air Florida in 1980. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A turbofan engines that had flown over 27,000 hours before the accident.
Where is the Potomac River where Air Florida Flight 90 crashed?
After takeoff, the Boeing 737 only reached an altitude of 350 feet before stalling. It then crashed into the bridge at 4:01 p.m., just 30 seconds after takeoff.
The 14th Street Bridge, were the plane went down, is just 4.1 miles by vehicle via the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Striking the bridge, which carries Interstate 395 from Washington, D.C., to Arlington County, Virginia, the aircraft hit seven occupied vehicles and destroyed 97 feet of guard rails before plunging through the ice into the Potomac.
It was carrying 74 passengers and five crew members. Of that total, only four passengers and one crew member were rescued from the crash and survived.
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A passenger, Arland D. Williams, Jr., assisted in the rescue of the survivors, but drowned before he could be rescued. Four motorists on the bridge were killed.
A federal employee, Lenny Skutnik, dived into the water to rescue a passenger. In the wake of the crash, he was heralded as a hero and invited to attend the State of the Union by President Reagan.
How deep is the Potomac River where the plane crashed?
The Potomac River's depth varies by location, but the average depth is 24 feet, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The deepest point is 107 feet, near Morgantown, Maryland. That's nearly 50 miles from the crash site.
Near Washington, D.C., where the crash occurred, the river is usually 10–20 feet deep, but deeper channels in certain stretches can range from 38-80 feet.
What were the weather conditions ahead of Air Florida crash in 1982?
On Wednesday, January 13, 1982, Washington National Airport was closed following a heavy snowstorm that had dumped 6.5 inches of snow on the runways. As the snowfall began to ease, the airport reopened at noon under marginal conditions.
Air Florida Flight 90’s scheduled departure time was delayed about 1 hour and 45 minutes because of a backlog of arrivals and departures caused by the airport’s temporary closing.
As the plane was readied for departure from DCA, moderate snowfall continued and the air temperature dropped to 24 degrees.
What were the causes of Air Florida Flight 90 crash in 1982?
An investigation by the NTSB determined that the Boeing 737 had broken into several large pieces upon impact: A nose and cockpit section, two sections of cabin in front and behind the wings and the tail portion of the aircraft.
Although impact speeds were low and well within survivability limits, the structural breakup of the fuselage and exposure to freezing water were deadly for all aboard the plane, except those seated in the tail section, the investigation determined.
The NTSB additionally found that the probable cause of the crash included the flight crew's failure to enforce a sterile cockpit during the final preflight checklist procedure. Anti-ice heaters on the engines were not engaged during ground operation and takeoff.
The decision to take off with snow and ice on the airfoil surfaces of the aircraft and the captain's failure to abort the takeoff during the early stage also led to the crash, the report stated.
The NTSB found errors in the way the plane was de-iced, including the crew’s decision to reduce the build-up on their Boeing 737 by using the exhaust of a jet in front of them. That decision may have only worsened potential icing on the wings, the investigation stated.
Investigators also found that ice also covered critical engine probes, giving the pilots a false reading of the thrust needed for takeoff. The lack of thrust likely caused the crash, the board concluded.
The NTSB also pointed to contributing factors such as the prolonged delay between de-icing the plane and its takeoff and the crew's limited experience operating in winter conditions.
What reforms in airline safety resulted from Air Florida Flight 90 crash?
As a result of the Air Florida crash findings, airlines were required to apply de-icing fluids more carefully and check wings, engines and other critical surfaces several times before takeoff in wintry conditions.
Regulators also directed flight crews to run engine anti-ice systems at the first sign of freezing precipitation.
New programs placed greater emphasis on winter weather risks and recommended simulator sessions that focused on handling ice and snow buildup.
Crew resource management was another significant innovation tied to the legacy of Air Florida 90.
That focused on teaching captains and first officers how to communicate clearly and challenge one another if safety rules were not being followed.