Comair 5191

Comair 5191 - what happened? As a pilot I have a difficult time trying to figure out how this accident occurred. An experienced crew who had previously flown into this airport before without incident.

When I learned to fly many years ago in West Texas my instructor used to carry a rolled up newspaper, and any time my head wasn't moving, my eyes were not moving or I was simply gazing out the window at the scenery, he would whack me on the back of the head! The point was - pay attention!

Later in life, as a flight instructor, I noticed that newer pilots were fascinated, almost mesmerized, by all of the bells and whistles which had found their way into the aircraft cockpit. For example, the CRJ100 has a Collins Pro Line 4 Avionics suite consisting of six tube EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System). Each of these tv like tubes can display an array of information for the flight crew ranging from engine instrumentation to weather radar and navigation information. You cans see how the cockpit display looks in the photograph above.

The crew were cleared to taxi to and depart from runway 22 at the Lexington Blue Grass airport, but for some reason took off on the 3500 foot runway 26. Given all of the information available to them, it is hard to understand how they could have made this mistake.

All airport runways are marked with their approximate magnetic heading in very large luminescent white paint. In other words, on the end of the runway it would say the runway heading. All a pilot has to do is look out the window to see these numbers! Further, heading information is displayed prominently on the EFIS screens. The date on the CRJ200 (which is similar to the CRJ100) can be found here:

Back to when I learned to fly. The first thing we were taught to do when we taxiied onto the active runway was to set our DG (Directional Gyro) which had to be reset every time the engine was started. These instruments were called "steam gauges" as opposed to the "glass cockpits" of todays aircraft. In glass cockpits all of this is taken care of for you automatically - so - no need to set the DG.

Let us hope that the co-pilot recovers and we find out what really happened. All pilots have known that accidents usually start well before the crew ever reaches the aircraft. Its all about attitude.

Have a great day! "Crusty Captain"