Flight 901 to Mt Eberus

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Flight 901 to Mt Eberus

Posted: 11/30/2015 8:48:16 PM EDT

An interesting disaster in several aspects. A DC10 hit the highest mountain in the Antarctic flying at 2,500 ft with 40 miles of visibility. The first investigation determined that the accident was 100% pilot error.

A second investigation a year later noted that the final waypoint on the flightpath had been moved just prior to the flight so that it was directly behind the mountain; crew hadn't been informed. Lots of debate over where the waypoint was shown during the crew briefing. The investigator further accused the airline of "an orchestrated litany of lies" by covering up and lying.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_New_Zealand_Flight_901

Erebus Overdue is a really well done documentary covering the effort to recover the 257 bodies from the Antarctic. I stumbled onto this last night and got sucked into the whole topic for about 3 hours.

https://youtu.be/kEsaTJDMo48

ETA: Added a link below to the song I can't get out of my head now.

Posted: 11/30/2015 8:51:37 PM EDT

[#1]

"sightseeing" over AntArctica.... Who thought THAT was a great idea ?

Posted: 11/30/2015 8:54:27 PM EDT

[#2]

Because it was a sightseeing trip (11hrs in the air), investigators had a pretty good idea of what conditions were like near Erebus. Lots of cameras were located and film developed.

Posted: 11/30/2015 8:57:48 PM EDT

[#3]

Don't plan a flight based on Erebus being the highest mountain in the Antarctic, because Vinson could be an unpleasant surprise.

Posted: 11/30/2015 8:58:20 PM EDT

[#4]

Even with 40 miles viz, I can see a type of white out or featureless view out the cockpit windows.

Posted: 11/30/2015 9:00:48 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
"sightseeing" over AntArctica.... Who thought THAT was a great idea ?

View Quote

I don't see anything wrong with it.

See also:
Says the guy who lives in Alaska.

Posted: 11/30/2015 10:10:18 PM EDT

[#6]

Thank you for posting that, it is worth a watch.
Really interesting insight into what mass casualty event workers deal with.

A lot of what these guys described matches what my dad has told me. He worked the Eastern Airlines flight 66 crash site at JFK in 1975. And some of our members here who worked the WTC site after 9-11-01 have said similar.
Nothing prepares you for dealing with something like that. Military service, being a FF or EMS worker, Doctor or whatever.

Something I hope to never have to experience firsthand.

Posted: 11/30/2015 10:45:14 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Erebus Overdue is a pretty good documentary covering the effort to recover the 257 bodies from the Antarctic. I stumbled onto this last night and got sucked into the whole topic for about 3 hours.
https://youtu.be/kEsaTJDMo48

View Quote

A very well done documentary. Thank you for posting this.

Posted: 11/30/2015 11:11:43 PM EDT

[#8]

I just got done watching it. That was really something. Thanks for posting it, 30Caliber!

Posted: 11/30/2015 11:59:44 PM EDT

[#9]

Generally, other than the union, pilot error will be the most popular finding for the majority of the parties to the investigation.

Posted: 12/1/2015 10:59:29 PM EDT

[#10]

The song they played in the documentary is just heartbreaking...

Tiny Ruins "Bird in the Thyme"

https://youtu.be/kScLsa0Vrhs

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Flight 901 to Mt Eberus

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