Boeing 777 Crashes In San Francisco

[Dr. Bombay]

I thought I recalled seeing on Mythbusters that modern commercial airliners can basically land themselves.  How is it possible an error of this type could have been made?

 

Perhaps I shouldn't watch Mythbusters....

[arfink]

I thought I recalled seeing on Mythbusters that modern commercial airliners can basically land themselves.  How is it possible an error of this type could have been made?

 

Perhaps I shouldn't watch Mythbusters....

 

That is actually true. The planes have good enough nav systems that they know how fast they are going, what orientation they are at, and the orientation and distance to the runway. They also know the wind and such. You don't need anything more to land a plane. In fact, the various drone systems the US employs are capable of self-landing, based on the same kind of tech they have in the 777, just smaller scale.

[CatherineM]

San Francisco is one of the airports that is on the list for natural hazards.

[Chestertonian]

I've few into SF a number of times. It's scary as carp because the runway is so close to the water.

[TheresaThoma]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLYeUbeyfOg&feature=youtu.be

 

NTSB report about what they have found thus far about the crash. 

[southern california guy]

That is scary.  It sounds like an inexperienced pilot just brought the plane in too "low and slow".....  He "stalled" it and dragged the tail into the edge of the runway just as he began landing.  Unbelieveable...  Did the plane have a power loss?  Why didn't he push the throttle forward and increase the speed and pull it out of the stall?  Of course those jets don't accelerate all that fast... :(

[arfink]

That is scary.  It sounds like an inexperienced pilot just brought the plane in too "low and slow".....  He "stalled" it and dragged the tail into the edge of the runway just as he began landing.  Unbelieveable...  Did the plane have a power loss?  Why didn't he push the throttle forward and increase the speed and pull it out of the stall?  Of course those jets don't accelerate all that fast... :(

 

Well apparently 7 seconds before impact he had a big warning from the computer system, and then 4 seconds before impact he pushed the throttle up and the engines seemed to respond as expected. Less than 2 seconds before impact they said they wanted to go a "go around."

[ithinkjesusiscool]

I do agree that this is kinda sad but why do we all need to know about this!?!

If you want a discussion about this it would be ok. Maybe we could learn something from it.

I just complain about the stupid media.

[AnneLine]

Yeah, I know what you mean.  I use it to pray for them, but try to stay clear from too much of the reports.

 

I think the general consensus out here (for what it is worth, and my husband works at that airport and deals with the customers all night long...) is that the guy was experienced, just not on that plane.  Everyone has to fly --and land-- a new plane a first time.    Apparently they send 2 pilots to spell each other on the long trips, and it was that guy's turn in the seat.   Having said that, what they are also saying is that the pilot who is not in the flight chair has the responsibility feed numbers and watch stuff for the pilot...so if there was a screw up... maybe the back-up was the one who should have been watching more carefully.

 

But I'm going to take a hint from 'Sully', the captain who miraculously landed that plane in the Hudson a few years back?   He was asked point-blank if he thought it was pilot error and he said, that's a complicated question... and a very tough airport.   I'm not going to judge.

 

I for one am glad judging what happened in this case is NOT something I have to do.   But good reminder, ITJC!

[Seven77]

Prayers for the souls of the deceased and for those who are recovering from this crazy crash.