NTSB: Asiana Airline Approached Runway Below Target Speed
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NTSB(SAN FRANCISCO) — After analyzing Asiana Flight 214’s black boxes, the National Transportation Safety Board has a better idea of what caused the Boeing 777 to crash Saturday, killing two people and injuring 182 others.
The cockpit voice recorder was found to have a 2-hour long, good quality recording, and the data recorder recorded 1,400 parameters of data, capturing the entire flight.
According to Deborah Hersman, chair of the NTSB, the approach to the runway was normal. There was no discussion between the pilots of any aircraft anomalies or concerns with approach. An examination of the data recorder found that the plane was approaching the significantly below the target speed of 137 knots, or a little over 157 miles per hour. When asked how much slower, Hersman would only say that “we’re not talking about a few knots.”
Crew members called to increase speed seven seconds prior to impact. The sound of a stick shaker, a device which jostles the controls in the pilot’s hand to indicate a stall is imminent, was heard four seconds prior to impact.
The engines appeared to be responding properly when the pilots attempted to increase speed, but it was already too late.
A call to initiate a go-around and attempt to abort the landing, occurred 1.5 second before impact.
All the systems that were required were operable and weather conditions were clear when the plane crashed. The glide slope operation was not functional, but it is not required by the FAA in good weather conditions.
Hersman said the investigation is ongoing.
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