Pilots of crash plane saw ice on wings

Press, 6 February 1982, Page 8

Pilots of crash plane saw ice on wings

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The crew of the Air Florida plane which crashed in Washington’s Potomac River last month apparently noticed ice and snow on the aircraft’s wings as it took off, a transcript of cockpit conversations released yesterday shows.

Seconds after the take-off in a snowstorm, the Boeing 737 hit a bridge and crashed into the river with the loss of 78 lives.

The pilot and co-pilot referred repeatedly to the bad weather and the problems of de-icing the wings while waiting to take off, according to the transcript. The co-pilot, Roger Alan Pettit, said at one point “Boy, this is a . . . losing battle here on trying to deice those things, it (gives) you a false feeling of security, that’s all that does.”

Investigators from the

National Transportation Safety Board looking into the January 13 crash declined to comment on the transcript of the cockpit tape while releasing it. Shortly before the crash, Mr Pettit said to the pilot, Larry Wheaton: “Larry, we’re going down, Larry.” “I know it,” replied Mr Wheaton.

Earlier, Mr Pettit had asked Mr Wheaton to look at a wing. In an apparent reference to ice and snow. Mr Wheaton said: “I got a little on mine.”

“A little," Mr Pettit said. "This one’s got about a quarter to half an inch on it all the way.” It was unclear whether he referred to his own wing or to that of another aircraft.

"My windshield will be deiced, don’t know about my wing,” Mr Wheaton had said. Shortly before take-off, Mr

Pettit appeared to suggest checking the wings again but then said: “I think we get to go here in a minute. Ought to work.”

Safety board investigators, who warned against drawing conclusions from the tape, have devoted much attention to the heavy snow’ that fell throughout the afternoon of the crash.

Snow and ice on the plane’s wings might have affected its shape and reduced its lift, the investigators have said.

Federal regulations say specifically that planes may not take off if frost, snow, and ice are sticking to engines, wings, or control surfaces. Investigators have established that up to one inch (25mm) of snow fell on the plane during the 43 minutes between its final de-icing and take-off.