The Danger of Ice on a Plane (Air Florida Flight 90) - DISASTER BREAKDOWN 

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the last lines in the recording “Larry, we are going down” “I know it” is horrific

Long waits on the tarmac to take off always freaked me out in winter weather for just this reason. Luckily I’ve had multiple pilots go back for deicing, regardless of whether the passengers grumble or not. Better late than dead!

30 minutes later, the DC Metro had its first fatal accident - a derailment on the Orange Line that killed 3 people.

I’ve seen entire rescue footage of this incident in Wonder - Critical Rescue here on RU-vid. The last guy who did not survive gave all chances to those other 5 survivors cuz when it was his turn to be rescued, he’s already nowhere to be found. 😔 And the bridge was named after him due to his heroic actions which caused him his own life.. 😔🙏🏼

The CVR recording is chilling, the flight crew knew it was going down. Most of these recordings are of flight crews keeping their composure and doing everything to save the plane during a time that most people would turn into a screaming bundle of panic. It's amazing.

The Lenny skutnik person is an absolute hero

I may be misremembering, but I think the brave helicopter crew were National Park Services. Not regular Police. They went above and beyond in their rescue efforts. True heroes.

Jesus Christ, just hearing the boom at the end of the flight recording made my stomach drop to my knees.....

Rescue operations were further hampered because, on the same afternoon, a Washington Metro subway train had derailed and many emergency responders were called to that incident. Furthermore, the U.S. government had sent people home, thus clogging the roadways making the people sitting in traffic on the 14th Street Bridge sitting ducks and severely limiting the ability of first responders to reach the accident site on land.

I was 27 when this horrible tragedy occurred and was extensively covered by the news. This just reinforced my resolve to never fly from or to airports under these conditions. I'm from Austin, TX and have retired to Fla., and I will face hurricanes, flash floods, searing heat and cockroaches the size of small dogs rather than travel in weather like that. RIP Air Florida 90.

14:34 I wish you had devoted just a bit more time to Mr. Williams. He repeatedly passed a life line that could have saved himself to save the others and was gone by the time the pilot came back to rescue him. Other than that, solid work, good script, good VA. 👍

I worked for Air Florida at the time and knew both pilots. I knew Roger from my time at Southwest, and his two sons would bot later fly for them. Another factor in the accident of the 737's propensity to pitch-up/roll-off during takeoff at low flap settings if there was any contamination of the wing's leading edges. This scenario was covered in a quarterly Boeing publication, but that info never attained widespread distribution to the flightcrew community as a whole.

Holy smokes this is the new Deep Impact & Armageddon with both you and Mentour Pilot releasing videos about this accident in the span of 18 hours.

Oh, something from the depths of my childhood memories sprung up. I once watched a rescue attempt on a frozen river on TV for a long time with a helicopter that seem to take a while, and then there's also the part where a bystander leaped into the frozen river to rescue a survivor. So it was a plane crash that caused them to be on that frozen river that day. Now I know the full story, so thank you. :)

This is the first air disaster that I remember being aware of as a child. I believe it was on my mind the first time I flew anywhere (several years after that), especially since National Airport was my final destination and it was winter. Fortunately, the return flight home a week later was uneventful.

I remember this well since my aunt lives in the DC area. Later I became a flight attendant but never have I been afraid of snow because our pilots always spent extra time on this when I flew.

This youtube channel is awesome, i love the technical information that helps to describe what happened. Relevant information with relevant video clips and you have a voice that is made for this. So happy to see that more people become patreon supporters because you certainly deserve it!

Anthony, this is my second video viewing since subscribing, and now I am even more certain that you have the best presentation of facts and technical information of any aircraft channel. I am truly puzzled why, after 4 years on YT, you don't have 100K subs at least. I have a feeling that the word will get out and your numbers will soar shortly! Good luck...😊

The pilots also thought it was a good idea to get up close behind a jet with rear-mounted engines thinking that would help with de-icing. This was also a practice strongly discouraged/illegal much like reverse thrust out of the gate with a plane not designed for that.

I was living in a county surrounding DC at the time. This was horrifying and all of the news channels in the DC/Baltimore markets were covering it live nonstop into the night. I watched for hours. We all knew that area so well so, it's really strange when it hits that close to home. RIP everyone who lost their lives that day.

I remember my plane being de-iced at Sofia airport. The weather was so bad, there was so much snow that I couldn’t even tell where the sky ended and the tarmac began. The takeoff was okay but it was very turbulent for a good 5 minutes straight after. It was a scary one, and I fly nearly 10 times a year haha

I don't understand how mixing ratios could change in the middle of de-icing, you'd think a batch large enough to de-ice the entire plane would gave been made the first time - so if a switch hitter was pulled in midplay he could just continue down the plane....

"we're going down larry" :(

I live relatively close to DC, snowstorms in the area are no joke, my aunt refuses to book any trips on January or February for this reason

I cross the 14th st bridge nearly every day, seeing low airplanes overhead coming and going, hoping one doesn't crash. I had no idea that it has actually happened before as this was before I was even born. 😬

I’ve haven’t watched the video yet but I can already tell it will be great 😀

Excellent video. Nice narration voice and explanations that a lay person like me can understand. Highlights: Relevant parts of written transcript, actual cockpit noises and what they are and the actual relevant voice recording. You’re the only channel I’ve seen that includes those. The others only have, if at all, the last two sentences the pilot and co-pilot said. You’ve won me over.

"we're goin' down Larry!" "I know!" That cvr of their last words is super eerie to me, they were well aware they were going to die, I cant imagine what that must feel like.

Great thorough breakdown

These videos are so well made and really interesting to watch 👍👍

I’m supposed to be getting ready to ski, but watching this is more important!

This was your best yet wow flight channel can’t touch you great job

I am a new pilot here in Japan. I find it difficult to think why a highly trained flight crew would not just push the throttles forward, at the point of stalling an aircraft or descending into terrain I fail to see any concern for the engines should be taken. (Note I have not flown a turbine aircraft so do not know the operating specifics with those types of powerplants.

You are the best! A channel worth subscribing.

I love your channel keep up the good work 👍

Another beautiful video

just the thing i need to make my Saturday night better

Excellent synopsis, as always 👌

Prior to Air Florida, Larry Wheaton was a Pilot for Air Sunshine that merged with Air Florida (Unsure of date) Kelly Duncan, also worked for Air Sunshine, as a Flight Attendant. Roger Pettit has two Sons. Both are pilots for Southwest. Of the five survivors, only three are living. Bert Hamilton died on April 05 2002 (I believe from a heart attack) Nikki Feltch died April 21 2002 from Cancer

I love your videos. Your scripts are great, you provide relevant visuals. Among all the channels that describe flight disasters, I like yours the best! Keep up the good work! To everybody else: you need to subscribe to this channel!

I first found this channel when RU-vid recommeded One of you're videos last year. I think the first one was JAL 123. Anyway you're videos are very informative and entertaning. Keep doing what you're doing! (Sorry if i misspelled anything, English is not my first language.

hello my friend! i like your videos alot, keep it up man :)

Thanks for sharing. 😉👌🏼

Hello: thank you for the video

9:34 In fact, the reality that the pilots didn't turn their anti icing system on was so unacceptable that even when the Cockpit Voice Recording was analysed by FBI investigators, who said the word spoken was "Off", many still refused to accept it. It wasn't until 14 years later in 1996 when a CVR specialist called Mike McDermott used some fancy (at the time) computer software to settle the mystery once and for all. McDermott took an instance of the Captain saying "On", he then took an instance of him saying "Off", and finally he took the suspect word, which he called "Onff", and played them in sequence. And after playing all three words on a relentless loop for hours on end, McDermott was able to confirm with 100% certainty that the Captain really did say "Off" when the First Officer asked him about the anti icing system.

Shouldn’t deicing be the absolute last procedure to do on an airplane before taking off from this weather?

I remember seeing a TV news report about this accident as a teen back in the day

I love the video. Around when i was born the comair crash haprnd can you make an video about that.

I remember this on the UK news when it happened, so very sad, very sad.

"Larry, we're going down Larry." alway gives me the chills.

Accidents happen & humans make errors I get that, but when people die as a result of a TOTALLY preventable accident, it's even MORE sad...not to mention the Captain shouldn't have been permitted anywhere near an aircraft. R.I.P.

2:23 KIAH is Houston, KIAD is Dulles

I just noticed that the Dulles ICAO code was wrong Washington Dulles is KIAD not KIAH, KIAH is Houston

my mother worked in the city (DC) at that time and she commuted over the 14th street bridge for work. If it hadn't have been for her utter hatred of traffic she would have likely been on the bride at the time of the crash, or close to it. Instead, of heading home at her usual time, she decided to work late in hopes of waiting out the traffic. hearing the recording with that knowledge makes it all the eerier.

This might've been the third video I'd seen on this incident. With each, I learn something new. I didn't know the names of the survivors until I saw yours. I know at least two of the five have since passed (Bert Hamilton and Patricia Felch). This information is nearly 20 years old though, so who knows what's still accurate.

It also report that the Pilots used the engine exhaust from a New York Air Dc-9 which had melt ice but had refrezze reducing lift even further

I will say. This crash happened one day after my official birthday and on the day of one of my friends. So it is an eerie crash to hear near my birthday.

2:23 Correction IAD (anyways love your content

I'm going to fly this December... and winters can be brutal where I live... well seeing as they are brutal, we probably have better protections on our planes here ig.

I seen this one too!😊

You didn't say why they named a bridge after him. Poor guy was a hero.

As a child I flew to Holland a lot to visit family.both parents immigrated.i was obsessed in love w airlines.i saw this at 11-12..it was surreal.flight is both gorgeous and w winning lottery type odds horrific..i want people to know flight is safer Than a bicycle ride any day week month or yr!

As a de-icer this is very frustrating to watch...

What’s the piano piece playing at the start of the video?

Hi, do you take requests? I would like see a video made on Nigerian Airways Flight 2120’s fire and crash. Saw a documentary on this tragedy. That was horrifying then, still is horrifying now - especially since the passengers and crew experiencing the smoke and blaze raging before the subsequent crash. On that same topic of fiery crashes, how about the Saudia Flight 163 incident as well? (Well, technically the jetliner didn't actually crash since it managed to land, but still, the fire onboard though and that inferno too.) Thanks.

We’re going down Larry

Can you do YAK 9633

I’m scheduled to be performing IFR training in an hour, it can wait. This takes priority!!!

There is the extra contributing factor to this crash; AF90 was queuing behind another aircraft on the taxiway which it's exhaust melted the snow on the wings, but it then refroze on the leading edges and engine sensors before take off. The accumulation of ice on the leading edges which anti-ice would have helped get rid of the build up help disrupt the airflow over the wing combined with the slow speed was fatal. I wonder had the sensor not being covered, whether the aircraft would have been saved even with anti-ice off. I think they still would have struggled with take off.

Larry! Look what you did!

A small correction is recommended: Dulles is KIAD, not KIAH. KIAH is George Bush/Huston Int'l in Huston, TX. A lot was learned from this sad tragedy...

I like the song in the background at the begining. What's the name of it?

They didn't switch the anti-ice on? JFC.

It's crazy with all the tech we have and how advanced aviation has become that we haven't figured out how to.keep ice of of the plane indefinitely. Heating coils in the planes skin or extremely hydrophobic coating or exothermic chemical reactions that react with water and ice just to name a few ideas. I guess it would be too expensive or complicated ? Or maybe even dangerous ? Or all of the above ? Any idea guys ? I would love to hear your ideas ! :)

So here the recap(Take mostly from The Flight Channel video) Link to his video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bqSovJIo7vk.html TIME EVENTS 14:30: Start of the de-ice Between 14:45 and 14:50: The de-ice progress must be resume At 15:23, they begin a pushback, but the tug error mean they had to replace one. In the mean time, the ice had been froze the wing Afterward, the pilot start to taxi but lot of plane also want to leave Florida. First officer request them to go back to de-ice but captain refuse as he believed the amount of exhaust from DC-9 will helped them to de-ice successfully and also if they return, the flight will be delay even more Finally at 15:57, They ready to take off. The takeoff engine procedure ratio had a setting of 2.04. At this point first officer realized something wasn't right. He realized the takeoff had take longer than usual. Afterwards the stick shaker deployed after the plane took off and shortly after, they crash. Only five survived include one flight attendant INVESTIGATION They discovered that the engine power setting for the temperature and the airport altitude was 2.04 EPR but the accurate one is only 1.74 EPR. This explain why the take off take longer than usual as it does not provide enough power to take off Also captain make mistake and instead of return to de-ice, they belief the DC-9 heat would melt the snow but instead it make situation worse. Captain also fail to listen to First Officer advice when they realized something wasn't right and that why he does not abort the take off Shortly after this incident, the airlines bankrupt on July 1984

It’s actually terrifying how such incompetent people were allowed to fly.

2:27 not KIAH, KIAD ;)

Better late than never dont ever rush things like this they are dangerous

Howard Stern's first bit of notoriety/infamy was when he was at a DC station when this happened and called Air Florida to book a flight to the 14th Street bridge the next day.

I’ve heard that if the pilots had shoved the engines to full power the plane might have climbed out safely is that possible or would shoving the throttles to full power have done nothing to help

What’s the music that starts at 6:21

"Damn it Wesley"

Am I wrong or was there a TV movie if this in the 80s ? I seem to remember that and there were people alive in the plane underwater, I could have it mixed up...

Why would Captain not turn on anti ice ? Maybe he had a deathwish

Another mater of details. Sad.

8:15 wasnt reverse thrust for reversing banned

Actually, Nikki Felch was the last person to be rescued alive.

They knew that something wasn’t right before they took off so why didn’t they abort the takeoff?? Mind you if the pitot tubes had been covered up, the de-icing done again just before takeoff and not using the reverse thruster then there wouldn’t have been any problem. I don’t know why they were flying in conditions like that anyway. It’s better to be delayed and alive in my opinion.

Both Flight Recorders survived undamaged

I think the copilot should have been the pilot he knew something was wrong

I love how you made a video on this crash because I believe my stepmom was in DC when this happened and my dad heard about it, so it means a lot to me that a plane crash that sort of involves two of my family members has been made into a video.

Smh....incompetent pilots shouldnt be flying

keep it parked in the garage until they're ready to roll

It doesn't matter where the pilots are from. A commercial pilot can wake up in Miami and fall asleep in Montana.

I see new video i watch new video

Should have never taken off

The fact that the takeoff wasn’t aborted concerned me 😶

Could he simply of misheard off as on?

The airport should have cancelled the flights. It was so very sad that one of the women rescued lost her husband and 2 month-old infant son. What a horrible tragedy.