Alaska 261 accident animation

This three-dimensional animated accident reconstruction shows the final pitch-over and initial portion of the dive for Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which crashed off of Point Hueneme, CA on January 31, 2000. The reconstruction exhibits information selected from the Flight Data Recorder, excerpts from the Cockpit Voice Recorder transcript, recorded radar data and aircraft performance data. This reconstruction does not depict the weather or visibility conditions at the time of the accident.

The animation shows a three-dimensional model of the airplane and its motion. Selected comments from the Cockpit Voice Recorder transcript are superimposed as text at the time they occurred. The time of day (based on the FAA's Air Traffic Control radar data) and aircraft altitude in feet are depicted as text.

The animation begins with the crew discussing possible mechanical damage to the longitudinal control system and a decision to land at Los Angeles International Airport. The aircraft pitched nose down shortly after the crew redeployed flaps and slats. The animation ends with the crew's declaration of "MAYDAY".

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Alaska
• 261
• accident
• plane
• crash
• animation
• MD-80

[korrdavl]

@jniemo REOPEN THE CASE!!!

[FLT111]

Is the full version of the NTSB animation up of the crash of flight 261, if so where ,may I find it?

[solomonpilot767]

one of the pilot that work Ameri flight saw the crash in flight and,quit his job the next day!

[commandro]

aside from the technical facts, i cant imagine the terror the passengers faced

[ard767]

Even then, US427 pilots would have had to diagnose the problem and act in ~10 seconds. Considering the long litany of rudder issues with the 737, training in this area should have been mandated by the FAA based on Boeing's crossover speed analysis. Then, it's likely US427 would have been just an incident, like Eastwind 517 in 1996, which finally provided evidence of the flaw in the B737 rudder system.

In UA585, I don't think the pilots would have had enough time even if they knew.

[ard767]

Andy..

For US427: IF the pilots of US427 had been trained on the crossover speed for the B737, they could have saved the aircraft. This is the speed BELOW which using maximum opposite ailerons will NOT correct for a rudder hard over. So, the US427 crew could have lowered the nose to increase the speed above the crossover speed, apply maximum right aileron and landed safely. Boeing knew this in 1992 - after UA585, but refused to admit anything was wrong, so never alerted the airlines.

[AndyMcArren1356]

you mean Partnair?

[AndyMcArren1356]

Kind of a similiar situation with U585 and US427

1.U585 and US427 could not recover from a rudder hard over dive

2. Alaska 261 had a jammed horizontal stabalizer and later on it gave away making the plane go in a position where it cannot be controlled

[Stinkywookiee]

After the Mayday:

CAPT: Push and roll, push and roll. CAPT: Ok, we are inverted...and now we gotta get it.

CAPT: Push push push...push the blue side up.

CAPT: Ok now lets kick rudder...left rudder left rudder. F/O: I can't reach it.

CAPT: Ok right rudder...right rudder. CAPT: Gotta get it over again...at least upside down we're flying.

[Sounds similar to engine compressor stalls and engine spool down]

CAPT: Speedbrakes.

F/O: Ah here we go. F/O: [End of recording]

[alvaro8969]

I don't think the pilot said "this is a b*tch", he said "this is a pitch". that MD-80 looks pretty nice..