Author Topic: UA A320 runs off runway in snow - Tower closed at the time  (Read 7756 times)

Offline Panop

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UA A320 runs off runway in snow - Tower closed at the time
« on: February 28, 2008, 12:12:16 PM »
This would have been an 'exciting' few moments for all concerned - read the quite thorough news report at:

http://www.jacksonholenews.com/article.php?art_id=2799

Here's the official version:

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NTSB ADVISORY
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
February 27, 2008

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NTSB INVESTIGATES JETLINER RUNWAY EXCURSION IN JACKSON HOLE

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The National Transportation Safety Board sent two investigators to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to investigate an incident in which a United Airlines jet veered off the side of a runway.

On February 25, 2008, at 9:16 p.m. MST, an Airbus A-320, registration N442UA, operated by United Airlines as flight 267, departed the right side of runway 19 during landing at Jackson Hole Airport. The captain, first officer, four flight attendants and 119 passengers evacuated the aircraft via the emergency slides. During the evacuation, one of the inflatable slides did not deploy. No serious injuries have been reported.

The airplane departed Denver at 7:44 pm MST with the intended destination of Jackson Hole. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the nighttime landing. The reported weather at the airport about the time of the
incident was wind calm, visibility of 10 miles, and overcast clouds at 3200 feet above the ground.

The airplane came to rest on its landing gear at about a 90 degree angle to the runway in snow about three feet deep. An initial examination of the aircraft revealed no readily visible signs of structural damage or evidence of fire.

The captain and first officer have both been interviewed by Safety Board investigators. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) were removed from the aircraft and sent to the NTSB headquarters in Washington where they will be read out.

Investigators are expected to remain on-scene for several days as they continue their documentation of the incident.

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The main conflict between the news report and the NTSB report is regarding any possible fire. 

I am curious - how can an airport operate for large jets and have all the ancillary staff such as fire service on hand but the FAA not be prepared to supply ATC as requested by the airport management (see the news story link above)?  Presumably the airport would be prepared to pay for this service and retrieve it through landing charges.  Something in the bureaucratic mind set is missing, I think. 



Offline ogogog

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Re: UA A320 runs off runway in snow - Tower closed at the time
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2008, 12:59:53 PM »
And the FAA said  "SAFTEY WAS NEVER COMPROMISED''