N559DW full flight with radar overlay - Doug White King Air landing HD

Watch it in HD where available. Video courtesy Doug White, FAA and NATCA.

Miami Center Audio ZMA and Ft Myers Approach RSW courtesy of the FAA

See the NATCA Press Release

http://www.natca.org/rss/controllers-coach-passenger-041309.aspx

HEROIC CONTROLLERS COACH PASSENGER TO SAFE LANDING AFTER PILOTS TRAGIC MID-AIR DEATH


NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION (NATCA)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2009
CONTACTS: Miami Center Representative Steve Wallace, 954-401-1348; NATCA National Office, Alexandra Caldwell, 202-220-9813, acaldwell@natcadc.org

MIAMI/FORT MYERS, Fla. In what can only be called an Easter miracle several air traffic controllers in Southern Florida were able to guide a plane to a successful landing after its pilot fell unconscious and a passenger had to fly the aircraft all during a heavy traffic push due to the holiday and good weather.

Said NATCA President Patrick Forrey: If you were to ask any one of the controllers who worked this event about what happened over the skies of South Florida they would tell you that it was just a typical day at the office and that it was merely their job however, the actions they all took to save the passengers aboard the flight were beyond heroic. They all went above and beyond the call of duty and it is times like these that I hope the flying public can see the invaluable lifeline that controllers provide every day and particularly in emergency situations. These men and women are true heroes and Im proud to be in the same profession as them.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday a Super King Air two-engine turboprop aircraft, N559DW, carrying four passengers flying from Marco Island, Fla. to Jackson, Miss. entered into the jurisdiction of air traffic control at Miami Center the facility responsible for high-altitude air traffic in both Southern Florida and the Caribbean. A controller at the center tried twice to acknowledge the aircrafts presence and issue climb instructions, waiting for a read-back.

The transmission that then came from N559DW was a passenger stating that the pilot was unconscious and that they needed help immediately. From that point forward every controller working in that jurisdiction area began to lighten the load of the two controllers who began to work the incident one of whom was called in because of her extensive pilot experience.

The passenger who radioed in was a private pilot, but was only certified in single-engine aircraft and had never flown a King Air. He informed air traffic control that the autopilot was on and that it was continuing to climb the aircraft from 10,000 feet. He then informed air traffic control that he needed to know how to take the plane off autopilot and how to land, then informing them that it appeared that the pilot had passed away.

A third controller at Miami Center stepped in to coordinate the rerouting of all aircraft in that area and transmitted emergency information to those at Ft. Myers International Airport. The controller with pilot-experience talked to the passenger to help him fly the plane and another controller worked traffic in the same area all three working on the same radio frequency.

Quickly developing a system that enabled them to effectively share the frequency they would tap ones shoulder to transfer and relinquish control on the radio channel. One would advise the passenger and then another would issue control instructions to other aircraft.

Due to the hard work of the controllers and the expertise that the one had in flying aircraft the passenger was able to get the plane off autopilot and steer the aircraft toward Ft. Meyers International Airport, transferring control to the controllers who worked that airspace.

The controllers at Ft. Meyers then took over the flight. One called a friend who was certified in the King Air for advice. When the friend had gotten out his flight checklists, manuals and cockpit layout sheets he was able to issue instructions through the controller to another controller who then relayed that information to the passenger flying the plane.

Because of this quick thinking the passenger-turned-pilot was able to safely land the aircraft on the first try.


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[tbeevers]

People on here amaze me...it's real easy to talk all big and bad from your computer seat but put yourself over the Gulf in the right seat of this King Air...your family is in the back and a dead pilot to your left....we'll see how you do. BTW, ever seen the instruments in a King Air?. He only had a handful of solos in a 172 which was several years ago. My dad knows Doug personally and he said his wife and two daughters were praying the entire time. Awesome job in my opinion.

[JPaulThePilot]

Tampaslice and tadrosp, let me start off by saying that you guys are assholes. I supose that you guys have forgotten your first solo eh? The King Air did not bring him home, he flew it home. Not to mention he had a dead pilot on the controls and his family in the back! The questions that he was asking were very relevant. He wanting to make sure he was fast enough to stay out of a stall and not too fast for touch down. Its like a ME pilot landing a 757 with his loved ones on board and no co-pilot

[fresnosmooth2000]

LOL -

"niner delta whisky - Are you using the autopilot or are you flying the airplane"

"me n' the good lord are hand flying niner delta whisky"

[lstorm2003]

@jamesfawr I agree with you, but this guy had the skills all along.. He just lacked confidence.. If you already have flight experience, which this guy clearly did, then this isn't really *that* big of a deal. Again, great job, but I don't think its a miracle that he landed this thing safely. His radio communication skills are excellent, that alone tells me he has some significant flight experience... He is a better pilot than he thought he was

[lstorm2003]

This was really not that big of a deal IMO. I'm sure it was stressful, but I think this guy had the skills to get this thing on the ground safely all along. He just lacked confidence, but his abilities are clearly there.

[mooro1973]

Incredible. Good work Sirs and Maam.

[Kopihucky]

this illustrates one reason that flying is safer. Imagine if that happened driving down the road? Everyone in the car would be dead because there is no time to react. Think what it would be like to fly next to a corpse for 20 minutes...

[Kopihucky]

Good thing he had some flight experience. Flying itself is not very hard.. all aircraft are relatively the same but if it had been someone with zero experience the outcome likely would of been a lot different. Most people who had never flown would not even know how to key the mic.

[sergery102]

Go to ground, LOL!

[slaven607]

Dang, for a single-engine pilot...a miracle. I'm amazed it's his first time flying a King Air. The last words for the pilot at 00:26 shocks me!

[8UP1977]

@tadrosp Your pilot died, you, your wife and kids are in a plane where moving the wrong lever the wrong way could exceed your own ability to fly the aircraft. If you're not NERVOUS you must be an android, or an internet expert.