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Tenerife disaster - 35 years ago today.
35 years ago today, the Tenerife airport disaster, happened. When a 747 began it's takeoff roll and slammed into another taxing 747, 583 people died making it the worst accident in aviation history with only 61 survivors. (en.wikipedia.org) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
A lot has been done to promote safety on the tarmac and hopefully in the cockpit too. The culture of airline captains seems to have changed from God status and that is a good thing. Let's leave that syndome to the medical profession.LOL
Yeah, with CRM training now pretty much a part of all Airline crew training, it gives the crew a forum from which to challenge a Captain. It also let's that Captain know that he just might not be infallible. Most corporate crews are using it or some form of it withing their organizations too. Personal opinio but it's one of the best things to ever happen in aviation.
Flying on memory here, but it seems like the official report basically blamed it on hetrodyne(skip, radio jam or whatever), which did not allow the KLM crew to hear the full tower instruction and caused them to start take off roll prematurely, but side reports noted that the KLM captain was the "Dutch Golden Boy" who could do no wrong and started a harangue on the controllers to get out of his parking place and into line well before others and that the tower got him out there just to shut him up. Then, the arrogance really took over which is why he commenced his take off roll. Word is that the official report was going to at least put part of the blame on him but pressure from the Dutch kept it out, at least this was what was on the street in 77. It really don't matter, 583 people died, and as Daniel says here, with Airport capacity straining everywhere, it is only by the Grace of God and alert pilots/controllers, that we haven't had another Tenarife here yet.
Not only side-reports: it is the truth. At that time the Dutch civil aviation authority (RLD) was, as we say in Holland, 2 hands on one belly with the KLM. So they used every power to get blame off the KLM pilot.
The Dutch captain was the chief-pilot of KLM; so the first reaction at KLm HQ when the message came of the accident was to call him, not knowing he was flying the machine. RLD indeed tried to blame everything on the so-called message black-out: because PanAm and KLM both were talking no one could hear each other. They also blamed PanAm for missing the exit while taxiing. But the facts were so clear that last year even the main KLM pilot had to accept the truth:
when you listen to the voice-recordings this is clear:
1) the KLM captain started without permission. The co-pilot then came in and said they had no permission. The KLM 747 had moved a few feet but stopped.
2) then the KLM captain again started, this time the co-pilot didn't dare to come in anymore. So there the real cause is: the KLM 747 starting without any permission, in fog, while they absolutely could not know if the PanAm was still on the runway too...
3) only 6 seconds after the KLM captain had started this message black-outhappened, and so it never could be the cause anymore, they were already acelerating on the runway....
4) after some time the PanAm clearly communicated they were on the runway, on the KLM voice-recordings you can hear this too: the KLM crew knew then absolutely knew they were full-power on a take-off with PanAm still in their way, in fog ! And yet they didn't do anything, no full-stop, nothing; they just went on with the take-off....
So the simple conclusion is: the fault and blame are 100% on the KLM captain. Yes, there was fog, yes the PanAm missed an exit; but to prevent things then to go wrong you have to stick to rules and regulations: and starting your take-off run without permission is a death-sin !! even more in fog....
By the way: the KLM captain was a very religious person, rumours in Holland go that his last words were "Godverdomme" (=Damn God or God damn)....
Also: they were put to Tenerife as on their original destination (las Palmas) was a bomb-threat. To not lose time in Las Palmas (crew fatigue rules) the KLM captain decided to top the 747 full with fuel. This way he fast could leave Las Palmas then for Holland/Amsterdam. And so the 747 was close to MTOW. And he nearly managed to climb over the PanAm 747. Wonder what had happened if he not had topped it with fuel: faster acceleration, faster airborne, maybe just miss then the PanAm 747.....
The Dutch captain was the chief-pilot of KLM; so the first reaction at KLm HQ when the message came of the accident was to call him, not knowing he was flying the machine. RLD indeed tried to blame everything on the so-called message black-out: because PanAm and KLM both were talking no one could hear each other. They also blamed PanAm for missing the exit while taxiing. But the facts were so clear that last year even the main KLM pilot had to accept the truth:
when you listen to the voice-recordings this is clear:
1) the KLM captain started without permission. The co-pilot then came in and said they had no permission. The KLM 747 had moved a few feet but stopped.
2) then the KLM captain again started, this time the co-pilot didn't dare to come in anymore. So there the real cause is: the KLM 747 starting without any permission, in fog, while they absolutely could not know if the PanAm was still on the runway too...
3) only 6 seconds after the KLM captain had started this message black-outhappened, and so it never could be the cause anymore, they were already acelerating on the runway....
4) after some time the PanAm clearly communicated they were on the runway, on the KLM voice-recordings you can hear this too: the KLM crew knew then absolutely knew they were full-power on a take-off with PanAm still in their way, in fog ! And yet they didn't do anything, no full-stop, nothing; they just went on with the take-off....
So the simple conclusion is: the fault and blame are 100% on the KLM captain. Yes, there was fog, yes the PanAm missed an exit; but to prevent things then to go wrong you have to stick to rules and regulations: and starting your take-off run without permission is a death-sin !! even more in fog....
By the way: the KLM captain was a very religious person, rumours in Holland go that his last words were "Godverdomme" (=Damn God or God damn)....
Also: they were put to Tenerife as on their original destination (las Palmas) was a bomb-threat. To not lose time in Las Palmas (crew fatigue rules) the KLM captain decided to top the 747 full with fuel. This way he fast could leave Las Palmas then for Holland/Amsterdam. And so the 747 was close to MTOW. And he nearly managed to climb over the PanAm 747. Wonder what had happened if he not had topped it with fuel: faster acceleration, faster airborne, maybe just miss then the PanAm 747.....
Thanks for the detail. At least my memory is still good.lol As I said though, the sad part of it is that there are still 583 people dead, and most folks have no idea how close they may come to that same situation at some Airports today.
I recall reading at the time that the KLM Captain had uttered the phrase "Mein Gott!" (My God!)at the moment he saw the PanAm 747 in front of him. These turned out to be his last words.
Wayne...WTF do we need reminding of this....then on the other hand there are abunch of younger folks who do. I suppuse the latest revison to prevent this is "line up and WAIT" instruction rather than the "position and HOLD" instruction. I suppose for all of us the "postion and hold command" kinda encouraged the "let her rip response"...not sure about you Wayne but I just love the thrill of take of and climb out.
However, recent events have made it clear that there is still considerable room for growth in runway safety. It's good to remember events like this to remind us about how tragic the consequences can be and encourage the aviation industry to continue to focus on runway safety.