http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/08/chicago.airplane/index.html
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — A Southwest Airlines jet slid off the runway during a heavy snowstorm at Chicago’s Midway Airport and crashed into at least one vehicle in a nearby intersection on Thursday night, a spokeswoman for Chicago’s Department of Aviation said.
Flight 1248, which was arriving from Baltimore, Maryland, slid through a fence separating the runway from the intersection, spokeswoman Wendy Abrams said.
There was no definitive cause given for the accident, but Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said the plane’s nose gear collapsed. ( Watch footage from the scene — 1:33)
None of the plane’s passengers were reported injured. Most of them were bused back to the terminal.
Five people, including at least one infant, were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oaklawn, hospital spokeswoman Deborah Song said. She said she didn’t know their conditions.
“We’re not sure if they came from one vehicle or multiple vehicles that were struck,” she said.
Amanda Doherty lives near the airport and said she went to the scene shortly after the crash and saw a car pinned under the airplane with its headlights still on. ( Watch witness account — :27)
A bartender at a pub down the street from the accident said he heard two loud booms when the plane crashed into the intersection.
“We thought it was an automobile accident and we looked out the window and we saw the tail section of a Southwest airliner laying across the street, on Central Avenue,” said Tom Fitzgerald, adding that he saw passengers exiting the rear of the plane. “People were running and ambulances were coming down the street.”
The Boeing 737 was carrying 98 passengers and five crew members. It left Baltimore-Washington International Airport about 5 p.m. ET and landed shortly after 8 p.m. ET.
Stanley Den, who was on the plane, said he noticed the plane wasn’t slowing down during the landing.
“I couldn’t really tell if we were on the runway or the grass. It was really bumpy,” Den said. “We were kind of going for a while until the impact when we hit, maybe I guess, a barrier fence, went through that and into the middle of the street with cars and stuff riding past us.”
It had been snowing all day in Chicago and visibility was poor at the time of the landing. The National Weather Service had issued a heavy snow warning in the city and surrounding area, saying that 6 to 9 inches of new snow could accumulate before midnight — at a rate of 2 inches per hour.
There were approximately 8 inches of snow on the ground by early evening, and winds were blowing at between 13 mph and 18 mph.
Video from the scene showed at least 10 ambulances at the scene and dozens of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles converging on the intersection. The plane’s fuselage was bent and its nose was on the ground.
Midway, which lies in a dense residential and commercial district of the city, west of downtown, was closed almost immediately and was not set to reopen until early Friday morning, the FAA said.
The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating the crash.
By: steve rowell - 16th December 2005 at 05:44
Quote from ATW
FDR data from the Southwest Airlines 737-700 overrun accident on Dec. 8 show the thrust reversers did not deploy until about 18 sec. after the aircraft touched down on Chicago Midway Runway 31C and 14 sec. before it ran through a blast fence at the end of the runway, the National Transportation Safety Board said yesterday. The aircraft continued through a perimeter fence and onto a roadway where it struck two cars, killing a six-year-old passenger in one of them. The captain, who was pilot in command during the landing, told NTSB investigators he could not get the reverse thrust levers out of the stowed position upon touchdown. The first officer, after several seconds, noticed they were not deployed and activated them without a problem, NTSB said. Preliminary calculations show that the aircraft touched down with about 4,500 ft. of remaining runway. Calculations also show that “for the runway conditions and use of brakes and thrust reverser that occurred, the stopping distance without hitting obstructions would have been about 5,300 ft.,” while the actual stopping distance was 5,000 ft.
By: wozza - 14th December 2005 at 07:33
Thought this was a decent pic on airliners.net: http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=975371&TopOfYest=yes
By: Airline owner - 10th December 2005 at 19:45
thanks for the translation, seems rather simple really
By: Whiskey Delta - 10th December 2005 at 17:43
Couple of ideas being tossed to make US airports more safe:
1) Longer runways.
I think every runway should be 10 miles long. 😉 This runway particular runway is plenty long for most airliners. Southwest has been flying 737’s in and out of MDW for decades and ATA even flew their 753’s in and out of there.
2) Installing more engineered materials at ends of runways to “catch
planes” (e.i. thin concrete, etc. Runaway trucks on US I-40
have sand runoff pits for trucks who lose wheels braking on downhill
drive).
I think these are bound to become manditory at some airports but I would be suprised if we’re still waiting 10 years from now. Nothing in aviation moves fast.
Winter weather could have contributed, and plane was landing at approx. 147 m.p.h.
128 knots is quite low for a 737.
By: Whiskey Delta - 10th December 2005 at 17:28
KMDW 090153Z 23003KT 1/2SM SN FZFG VV002 M04/M05 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP191 R31C/4000V4500FT SNINCR 1/10 P0000 T10391050 $
This line is the current conditions as of 0153 Zulu. The main points:
23003KT = winds 230 degrees at 3 knots
1/2SM SN FZFG = 1/2 statute mile visibility due to Moderate Snow and Freezing Fog
VV002 = Vertical Visability is 200 feet
R31C/4000V4500FT = Runway 31C visability variable between 4000-4500 Feet
SNINCR = Snow increasing
KMDW 090137Z 090124 07010KT 1SM -SN BR SCT003 OVC006
TEMPO 0203 1/2SM SN FZFG VV003
FM0300 03008KT 3SM -SN BKN007 OVC012
TEMPO 0305 1SM -SN BR
FM0500 33007KT 5SM -SN BKN010 OVC015
FM0800 33012KT P6SM BKN020
FM1200 29010KT P6SM BKN030
FM1800 24012KT P6SM SCT030
This is the forcast conditions for KMDW starting with the time it was issued at 0137 Zulu.
07010KT 1SM -SN BR SCT003 OVC006
TEMPO 0203 1/2SM SN FZFG VV003
The weather was forcasted to be Winds 070 degrees at 10 knots, 1 mile visibility due to light snow/mist. Clouds scattered at 300 feet and overcast at 600 feet.
Temporarily between 0200-0300 Zulu the visibility will be 1/2 mile due to Moderate Snow and Freezing Fog. Vertical visability of 300 feet.
All in all, it really wasn’t that bad. This may point towards the condition of the runway and/or where the crew landed the airplane on the runway.
By: Airline owner - 10th December 2005 at 15:59
Ouch, prayers must be offered to that childs family
KMDW 090153Z 23003KT 1/2SM SN FZFG VV002 M04/M05 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP191 R31C/4000V4500FT SNINCR 1/10 P0000 T10391050 $
KMDW 090137Z 090124 07010KT 1SM -SN BR SCT003 OVC006
TEMPO 0203 1/2SM SN FZFG VV003
FM0300 03008KT 3SM -SN BKN007 OVC012
TEMPO 0305 1SM -SN BR
FM0500 33007KT 5SM -SN BKN010 OVC015
FM0800 33012KT P6SM BKN020
FM1200 29010KT P6SM BKN030
FM1800 24012KT P6SM SCT030
Translation please :D:D
By: Whiskey Delta - 10th December 2005 at 13:45
Why on earth were they permitted to land in such atrocious conditions
Such conditions are rather common in the winter around the Great Lakes but usually with stronger winds. Christmas Eve last year was a memorable one for those traveling. Visibility is dictating to shoot the approach. If the visibility is above what’s required and reported braking action is above “nil” or “poor” (depending on the airline) then you can expect a crew to land.
What these conditions do lead to is less margin for error. It doesn’t make it less safe only that your planning has additional limitations place on it.
My personal favorite from the reports so far is that reporters are giving some weight to the passenger reports that the landing and rollout was unsually rough and an indicator that “things weren’t going right”. Man, anyone who’s landed on runway 31C can tell you that it’s a very rough piece of asphalt no matter the WX conditions. Everytime I land on it I make the comment “Nice runway. :rolleyes: ” 🙂
By: Newforest - 10th December 2005 at 08:57
Why on earth were they permitted to land in such atrocious conditions
http://newsbusters.org/node/3147
You are following the thoughts of the majority of uninformed journo’s. 😀
and don’t forget, witnesses said the nosewheel collapsed on landing.
By: steve rowell - 10th December 2005 at 06:37
Why on earth were they permitted to land in such atrocious conditions
By: MANAIRPORTMAD - 9th December 2005 at 15:57
Poor child! Very bad news.
By: EGNM - 9th December 2005 at 15:21
Such sad news at this time of year, especially being a young child involved.
Thoughs as said above with the family and FD.
By: Mark L - 9th December 2005 at 10:32
Very bad news indeed. As well as the family of the little boy that died I also feel for the pilots of the aircraft who must be going through a similarly traumatic time having to live with their actions, whatever the cause of the crash 🙁
By: bmi-star - 9th December 2005 at 09:37
Ouch!
Very sad that there was a fatality involved
By: Ren Frew - 9th December 2005 at 07:30
Breaking News: Southwest 737 skids of runway
A Southwest flight has skidded off the runway at Chicago Midway, in poor weather. The plane has apparently ended up in a street outside the airport, killing a six year old boy in a car and causing extensive damage.
By: J Boyle - 9th December 2005 at 04:41
An 8 year old boy is reported as dead. Anyone know if this would be the first fatality for Southwest.
Yes, I believe it would be. It’s small consolation, but the airline still hasn’t lost a passenger or AC in flight…quite a recod considering the airlines age and number of daily flights….many out of smaller airports.
Prayers and Condolences to all involved.
By: Whiskey Delta - 9th December 2005 at 04:23
An 8 year old boy is reported as dead. Anyone know if this would be the first fatality for Southwest.
Thoughts and prayers are with the rest of those involved.
By: Whiskey Delta - 9th December 2005 at 04:14
KMDW 090153Z 23003KT 1/2SM SN FZFG VV002 M04/M05 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP191 R31C/4000V4500FT SNINCR 1/10 P0000 T10391050 $
KMDW 090137Z 090124 07010KT 1SM -SN BR SCT003 OVC006
TEMPO 0203 1/2SM SN FZFG VV003
FM0300 03008KT 3SM -SN BKN007 OVC012
TEMPO 0305 1SM -SN BR
FM0500 33007KT 5SM -SN BKN010 OVC015
FM0800 33012KT P6SM BKN020
FM1200 29010KT P6SM BKN030
FM1800 24012KT P6SM SCT030
It appears the winter season is upon us.
By: Whiskey Delta - 9th December 2005 at 04:13
Due to the proximity of the city/roads/buildings to the airport “off the runway” = “in the street” at MDW. The weather is turning ugly around here so I’m sure these guys had their hands full on this approach. There isn’t much room for error at this airport.
I found this picture somewhere on the internet.
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December 9, 2005 at 4:10 am