Glasgow Daily Times, Glasgow, KY

Local News

August 30, 2006

Crew had boarded wrong plane before takeoff

NTSB admits fault in allowing only one controller in tower

LEXINGTON — The pilot and first officer of the Comair CRJ-100 that crashed Sunday morning at Blue Grass Airport originally boarded the wrong plane before a ramp worker told them of their mistake, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Debbie Hersman, an NTSB member, told reporters Tuesday that information was gleaned from an interview with the ramp worker. She also said it was the pilot, Jeffrey Clay, who taxied the aircraft to runway 26 rather than the longer runway 22, but that it was – as she reported Monday – the first officer, James Polehinke, who piloted the plane during takeoff.

The crew had begun safety checks and start-up on the first plane, a similar craft to the plane they were supposed to be on and that they eventually boarded before the accident. Hersman said investigators have found no reports or evidence of alcohol or drinking by the crew, but their autopsies will include toxicology examinations for evidence of alcohol and six listed drugs.

Hersman also reported the air traffic controller on duty at the time did not maintain visual contact with the plane after he cleared it for takeoff.

The last time he saw the plane, Hersman said, was when it was on the taxi zone leading to the runways. The controller then turned around to take care of some reports and paperwork and realized there had been an accident only when he heard an explosion.

“The fact of the matter is this controller did not have eye contact with the plane after he cleared it for takeoff,” Hersman said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday that it erred in allowing only one air traffic controller at the tower in Lexington and its policy normally requires two. A second air traffic controller has since been assigned to the tower for the midnight to 8 a.m. shift on the weekend, following Sunday’s crash.

Hersman said the controller on duty Sunday has 17 years of experience at the Lexington airport and is “fully qualified.”

Text Only
Local News
  • 0210 Betty Brogan 1.tif Local artist paints what she loves

    When Betty Brogan paints, she is able to escape the humdrum of everyday activity.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tyson to give keynote talk for health conference

    Donna Tyson’s enthusiasm for life is apparent with every word she speaks. A motivational speaker for the last 25 years, Tyson travels around the country sharing her story and encouraging others to find joy in their lives.

    February 11, 2012

  • Senate approves redistricting map

    The state legislature couldn’t agree on a plan to re-draw Kentucky’s six congressional districts, so the state’s congressional delegation stepped in and Friday the General Assembly finally passed a plan, although not without some angry dissent from a couple of central Kentucky Republican state senators.

    February 11, 2012

  • MORNING UPDATE: GFD responds to car fire

    February 10, 2012

  • Two arrested on criminal trespass, public intoxication charges

    February 10, 2012

  • Tax reform suggestions coming by Nov. 15

    Gov. Steve Beshear on Thursday announced the members of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform and said it will offer recommendations by Nov. 15 to make the state’s tax system more responsive to changes in the economy and fairer for taxpayers.

    February 10, 2012

  • Released felon arrested again

    It was what jail officials were afraid would happen, and in fact they anticipated.

    February 10, 2012

  • More infected bats found in state

    White-nose syndrome has been detected in another  Kentucky county, but it has yet to be found at Mammoth Cave National Park.

    February 10, 2012

  • Ambulance board OKs outsource billing

    After a thorough discussion during Wednesday’s board meeting, the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Services  decided to outsource its billing to AMB-MARS (Medical Accounts Receivable Systems doing business as AMBulance Medical Billing), contingent on AMB-MARS adding a guarantee clause on its work.

    February 9, 2012

  • 0209 Youth of the Year 1.jpg Teen named local youth of the year

    Rayne Triplett has been practicing the speech she will give at the end of the month when she travels to Frankfort to compete for the Boys and Girls Club’s 2012 State Youth of the Year title. 

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

AP Video
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Seasonal Content
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Facebook