[23], Roger Olian, Lenny Skutnik, Donald Usher, and Melvin Windsor each received the Carnegie Hero Fund Medal. He was the first to jump into the water to attempt to reach the survivors. With a sickening sound that witnesses likened to a pane of glass shattering, the burning aircraft hit the river, broke apart and began to sink. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Aug. 5, 2002 -- It's been more than 20 years since Air Florida Flight 90 took off from National Airport and crashed onto a bridge in downtown Washington, then plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River. [24] Kelly Duncan, the only surviving flight attendant, was recognized in the NTSB accident report for her "unselfish act" of giving the only life vest she could find to a passenger. [4]:78, The investigation following the crash, especially regarding the failure of the captain to respond to crew concerns about the deicing procedure, led to a number of reforms in pilot-training regulations. Several persons said that he was the type of pilot who would not hesitate to speak up if he knew something specific was wrong with flight operations. The 14th Street Bridge was renamed in his honor in 1985. I never knew that it actually had a name until nowor that it was named after an incredible man who gave his life so selflessly only a few feet from where thousands of commuters cross into DC every day. The airport closed from approximately 1 pm to 3 pm, so Flight 90s departure was delayed about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Life vests were dropped, then a flotation ball. The rest of the plane slammed into west side of the bridge and sank into 25 to 30 feet of water between the 14th Street Bridge and the George Mason Memorial Bridge. Flight 90 was nearly two hours late when it lifted off National Airport's slushy main runway. As the U.S. Park Police are part of the United States Department of the Interior, pilot Donald W. Usher and paramedic Melvin E. Windsor also received the Interior Department's Valor Award, presented in a special ceremony soon after the accident by Secretary of the Interior James G. Watt. Many federal offices in downtown Washington had closed early that day in response to quickly developing blizzard conditions. At the time of the accident, he had around 3,353 flight hours, 992 with Air Florida, all on the 737. I dont know how people could go through something like this without faith, she said. The rescue attempts by emergency officials and witnesses were recorded and broadcast live by area news reporters. 6 minute read. At this point, flight controllers were aware only that the plane had disappeared from radar and was not responding to radio calls, but had no idea of either what had happened or the plane's location. On January 13, 1982, the Boeing 737-200 registered as N62AF, crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River. The crash "was so avoidable," he said. Of those on board the plane, 74 people died. Charlie ran to the 14th street bridge and captured the only still images from the rescue. Four of the crew members (including both pilots) died. When all the other survivors had been rescued, the helicopter went back for him. Flight 90, operated by the now-defunct Air Florida, was headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, a popular winter weather escape route. Returning to GTE 18 months later after intense physical therapy. Those who had flown with him during stressful flight operations said that during those times, he remained the same witty, sharp individual, "who knew his limitations." On Jan. 13, 1982, Tirado was pulled from the Potomac River after Air Florida Flight 90 crashed in a snowstorm. The display includes the U.S. Park Police helicopter involved in the rescue of Flight 90's survivors. Required fields are marked *. A watching bystander, Congressional Budget Office assistant Lenny Skutnik, stripped off his coat and boots, and in short sleeves, dove into the icy water and swam out to assist her. DC Fire Department radio traffic from Air Florida Flight 90 and Metrorail crashes- Part 1, Part 2 . In an ABC News article following the crash, he said he knew something was not right while the plane hurtled down the runway: You could see out one side, but not really the other side. He was real good for me.". The Safety Board also noted that the Captain and the first officer did not inspect the outside of the plane before leaving the gate. On Sunday, the nation's capital was pummeled with up to 8inches of snow, the first significant winter storm inWashington in more than three years. The rescue attempts by emergency officials and witnesses were recorded and broadcast live by area news reporters, and as the accident occurred in the nation's capital, large numbers of media personnel were on hand to provide quick and extensive coverage. Yet "the sadness" occasionally wells up in him, and he breaks down in sobs, which he did twice during a recent interview. Roger Olian, a sheetmetal foreman at St. Elizabeths, a Washington psychiatric hospital, was on his way home across the 14th Street Bridge in his truck when he heard a man yelling that there was an aircraft in the water. An unidentified passenger from an Air Florida jetliner that crashed into the Potomac River holds on to a safety ring during a rescue attempt in Washington, Jan. 13, 1982. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the cause of the accident was pilot error. The crash prompted airlines to adopt strict policies ensuring inexperienced captains are paired with experienced co-pilots. The National Transportation Safety Board report later noted that the cabin separated from the cockpit and broke into three large sections and many smaller pieces. None of the cabin floor remained intact; most seats were extensively damaged and separated from the floor. "It was the same seat assignment as the day of the crash." Seventy-eight. [4]:2, The Boeing 737 was deiced with a mixture of heated water and monopropylene glycol by American Airlines, under a ground-service agreement with Air Florida. Marilyn Nichols, a stewardess, has just learned she is pregnant. I was in DC that day on a job interview, a part of which was cancelled because of the storm. Another passenger, Arland D. Williams, Jr., assisted in the rescue of the survivors, but drowned before he could be rescued. He changed seats quickly, but still took the flight. In 1985, the 14th Street Bridge was renamed the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge in his honor. The pilot pulled him across the ice to shore, while avoiding the sides of the bridge. [4]:1 It fell between two of the three spans of the bridge, between the I-395 northbound span (the Rochambeau Bridge) and the HOV north- and southbound spans, about 200ft (61m) offshore. Thank you for writing about this tragedy. Keefer said his sister found his daughter in critical condition at the National Orthopedic ad Rehabilitation Hospital in Arlington, Va. Investigators determined that plenty of time and space on the runway remained for the captain to have abandoned the takeoff, and criticized his refusal to listen to his first officer, who was correct that the instrument panel readings were wrong. Olian, of Arlington, whose rescue attempts gave survivors hope before the helicopter arrived, said he "got a lot of satisfaction just to do it.". Your kingdom come. At first, "I felt guilty for surviving," said Moore, who lives in Miami. Stiley suffered hypothermia, a broken arm, leg, a skull fracture, broken jaw and spinal injuries. To me, that bridge was always the 14th Street Bridge. Nineteen occupants were believed to have survived the impact, but their injuries prevented them from escaping. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of crack, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to Pinellas County jail records. [4], Wheaton was described by fellow pilots as a quiet person, with good operational skills and knowledge, who had operated well in high-workload flying situations. The first flight was nerve-wracking, but she found solace in religion. But the emotional devastation of the Jan. 13, 1982, disaster continues to surface, and in some cases continues to grow, as the survivors struggle to get on with their lives. Cookie. *, Your email address will not be published. The report also notes that the planes proximity to another aircraft while taxiing turned the snow on the plane to slush, which then froze in several critical areas. [27] Thomas Canning, a senior airline analyst for Standard & Poor's, said, "I don't believe one crash can make or break an airline; there were a lot of other factors involved in Air Florida's bankruptcy. Stiley said he often feels odd when he isnt sure a memory is something he went through or saw on television. At great risk to themselves, the crew worked close to the water's surface, at one time coming so close to the ice-clogged river that the helicopter's skids went beneath the surface of the water. Priscilla Tirado was too weak to grab the line when the helicopter dropped the line to her again. A few people who had been seated near the rear of the plane clung to debris, screaming for help. She met her future husband, John, a tennis pro, at a Miami church and is now raising three children. Duncan was a flight attendant aboard Air Florida Flight 90 when it scraped a bridge and crashed into the river on Jan. 13, 1982. By the way, this is actually the 2nd crash at National. It began to descend after reaching between 200 and 300 feet. Air Florida was a carrier based out of Miami throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He left within two weeks. Ah, maybe it is. [12], The PBS series Nova featured the crash in season 2, episode 2, of the TV show Why Planes Crash, in an episode called "Brush With Death".[32]. News media outlets followed the story with diligence. It has been 40 years since Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River killing 78 people, including three infants. On January 13, 1982, the Boeing 737-222 registered as N62AF crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River.[3]. [4]:1011 On April 24, 1981, he received an unsatisfactory grade on a company recurrent proficiency check when he showed deficiencies in memory items, knowledge of aircraft systems, and aircraft limitations. The plane took off and struggled to maintain altitude. By then some fire/rescue personnel had arrived, but military personnel and civilians were key in pulling the survivors from the shore up to waiting ambulances. [4]:82, Contributing to the accident were the prolonged ground delay between deicing and the receipt of ATC takeoff clearance during which the aircraft was exposed to continual precipitation, the known inherent pitch up characteristics of the B-737 aircraft when the leading edge is contaminated with even small amounts of snow or ice, and the limited experience of the flight crew in jet transport winter operations. All but the tail section quickly became submerged. I cant even recall seeing any other name for the bridge other than 14th Street. "I didn't want to hang around home. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) Embed. The pilot apparently decided not to return to the gate for reapplication of deicing, fearing that the flight's departure would be even further delayed. Roger Olian, a sheet metal worker ensnared in a nearby traffic jam,was believed to be the first person to jump into the waterwith a rope entwined around his waist, but he had to be reeled back in when he got stuck on ice. During that time, American Airlines personnel were deicing the aircraft. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-200, was loaded with 74 passengers, including three infants and five crew. [27], Disagreement arose over whether the Air Florida crash was a significant factor in the company's failure. The flight was due to depart at 14:15, but prolonged heavy snowfall, accompanied by . The early rush hour also meant that trains on the Washington Metro were full when just 30 minutes after Flight 90 crashed, the Metro suffered its first fatal crash, at Federal Triangle station. the small crash was probably eclipsed by the Air Florida one. Im a commuter. Jan. 14, 1982 Priscilla Tirado, 22, one of the survivors of the. A vibrating elevator can unnerve Bert Hamilton. The man passed them to the others. [4]:29,47 The correct engine power setting for the temperature and airport altitude of Washington National at the time was 2.04 EPR, but analysis of the engine noise recorded on the cockpit voice recorder indicated that the actual power output corresponded with an engine pressure ratio of only 1.70.