Pilot concerned about landing Asiana jet before crash
December 12, 2013 -- Updated 0246 GMT (1046 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: Pilot noted that airport navigation system wasn't working
- NEW: Comments from pilots revealed by crash investigators at hearing
- Trainee pilot was flying the Boeing 777 with an instructor beside him
- Investigators focus on concern that pilot relied too much on automated systems
Capt. Lee Kang Kuk, who was highly experienced in a Boeing 747 but was transitioning to flying a 777, told the National Transportation Safety Board that he found it "very stressful, very difficult" to land without the glideslope indicator that helps pilots determine whether the plane is too high or too low during approach.
"Asked whether he was concerned about his ability to perform the visual approach while piloting Asiana Flight 214, he said 'very concerned, yea,'" the safety board revealed at a hearing on Wednesday on its investigation into the July 6 crash that killed three people and injured more than 180 others.
The jet struck a sea wall and broke apart on the runway following a missed approach.
In this handout photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 sits just off the runway at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday, July 7. The Boeing 777 coming from Seoul, South Korea, crashed on landing on Saturday, July 6. Three passengers, all girls, died as a result of the first notable U.S. air crash in four years.
A photo showing the damaged interior of the aircraft was released by the NTSB on July 7. The flight carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew took off from Shanghai and stopped in Seoul before heading to San Francisco.
A photo showing the damaged interior of the aircraft was released by the NTSB on July 7. The flight carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew took off from Shanghai and stopped in Seoul before heading to San Francisco.
An investigator photographs part of the landing gear at the crash site in a handout released on July 7. Investigators believe that the pilots were flying too slow and too low as they neared the airport on July 6.
An investigator photographs part of the landing gear at the crash site in a handout released on July 7. Investigators believe that the pilots were flying too slow and too low as they neared the airport on July 6.
An investigator inspects the broken-off tail of the plane in a handout photo released July 7. The crash killed two people, injured 182 and forced the temporary closure of one of the country's largest airports.
An investigator inspects the broken-off tail of the plane in a handout photo released July 7. The crash killed two people, injured 182 and forced the temporary closure of one of the country's largest airports.
An investigator stands near the tail of the plane in a handout photo released on July 7. The NTSB has ruled out weather as a problem and said that conditions were right for a "visual landing."
An investigator stands near the tail of the plane in a handout photo released on July 7. The NTSB has ruled out weather as a problem and said that conditions were right for a "visual landing."
Investigators approach the crash in a handout photo released on July 7.
Investigators approach the crash in a handout photo released on July 7.
Fire crews attempt to quench the blaze on Saturday, July 6.
Fire crews attempt to quench the blaze on Saturday, July 6.
Smoke rises from the crash site across the San Francisco Bay on July 6.
Smoke rises from the crash site across the San Francisco Bay on July 6.
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 remains on the runway on July 6.
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 remains on the runway on July 6.
A plane sits on the runway on July 6 while emergency crews tend to the crash site.
A plane sits on the runway on July 6 while emergency crews tend to the crash site.
A helicopter flies above the wreckage on July 6 as people observe from across the waters of San Francisco Bay.
A helicopter flies above the wreckage on July 6 as people observe from across the waters of San Francisco Bay.
Travelers at San Francisco International Airport look at the departures and arrivals board after Asiana Flight 214 crashed on July 6. The airport, located 12 miles south of downtown San Francisco, is California's second busiest, behind Los Angeles International.
Travelers at San Francisco International Airport look at the departures and arrivals board after Asiana Flight 214 crashed on July 6. The airport, located 12 miles south of downtown San Francisco, is California's second busiest, behind Los Angeles International.
Kevin Cheng talks on his phone as he waits in the terminal after Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash-landed on July 6. He said he was supposed to pick up students who were on board the flight from Seoul.
Kevin Cheng talks on his phone as he waits in the terminal after Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash-landed on July 6. He said he was supposed to pick up students who were on board the flight from Seoul.
Passengers wait for the British Airways counter to reopen at San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
Passengers wait for the British Airways counter to reopen at San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
Police guard the Reflection Room at the San Francisco airport's international terminal, where passengers from Asiana Airlines Flight 214 were reportedly gathering after the crash landing on July 6.
Police guard the Reflection Room at the San Francisco airport's international terminal, where passengers from Asiana Airlines Flight 214 were reportedly gathering after the crash landing on July 6.
People are escorted from the Reflection Room at the San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
People are escorted from the Reflection Room at the San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
Traffic backs up on U.S. Route 101 South in San Francisco on July 6. The Bay Area airport was closed to incoming and departing traffic after the crash, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Traffic backs up on U.S. Route 101 South in San Francisco on July 6. The Bay Area airport was closed to incoming and departing traffic after the crash, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
People look over the wreckage across a cove in San Francisco Bay on July 6.
People look over the wreckage across a cove in San Francisco Bay on July 6.
Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, speaks to the press at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, before departing for San Francisco with an NTSB crew on July 6 to investigate the crash site.
Deborah Hersman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, speaks to the press at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, before departing for San Francisco with an NTSB crew on July 6 to investigate the crash site.
The San Francisco Giants observe a moment of silence for those killed and hurt in the crash before their baseball game on July 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Giants observe a moment of silence for those killed and hurt in the crash before their baseball game on July 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Crews comb the end of a San Francisco airport runway following the crash landing on July 6.
Crews comb the end of a San Francisco airport runway following the crash landing on July 6.
People in Seoul watch a news program reporting about the crash landing on July 6 in San Francisco. Asiana Airlines Flight 214 took off from Seoul earlier Saturday.
People in Seoul watch a news program reporting about the crash landing on July 6 in San Francisco. Asiana Airlines Flight 214 took off from Seoul earlier Saturday.
The plane crashed on July 6 around 11:30 a.m. (2:30 p.m. ET).
The plane crashed on July 6 around 11:30 a.m. (2:30 p.m. ET).
People walk past the wreckage of the plane's tail on July 6.
People walk past the wreckage of the plane's tail on July 6.
The burned-out plane remains on the runway on July 6. Passengers and crew members escaped down the emergency inflatable slides.
The burned-out plane remains on the runway on July 6. Passengers and crew members escaped down the emergency inflatable slides.
Rescue workers tend to the crash site on July 6.
Rescue workers tend to the crash site on July 6.
Debris litters the runway on July 6.
Debris litters the runway on July 6.
Airport shuttles arrive on the scene after the crash landing.
Airport shuttles arrive on the scene after the crash landing.
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the tarmac on July 6.
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the tarmac on July 6.
Crews surround the remains of the plane on July 6.
Crews surround the remains of the plane on July 6.
Investigators pass the detached tail and landing gear of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 on July 6.
Investigators pass the detached tail and landing gear of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 on July 6.
An aerial view shows the site of the crash landing between the runways on July 6.
An aerial view shows the site of the crash landing between the runways on July 6.
Smoke rises from the crash site on July 6 at the airport in San Francisco.
Smoke rises from the crash site on July 6 at the airport in San Francisco.
Fire crews work at the crash site at San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
Fire crews work at the crash site at San Francisco International Airport on July 6.
The Boeing 777 lies burned on the runway after it crashed landed on July 6.
The Boeing 777 lies burned on the runway after it crashed landed on July 6.
An aerial photo of the scene on July 6 shows the extent of the plane's damage.
An aerial photo of the scene on July 6 shows the extent of the plane's damage.
The burned-out plane sits surrounded by emergency vehicles on July 6.
The burned-out plane sits surrounded by emergency vehicles on July 6.
CNN iReporter Amanda Painter took this photo while waiting at the San Francisco airport on July 6. The entire airport has shut down and flights diverted to other airports.
CNN iReporter Amanda Painter took this photo while waiting at the San Francisco airport on July 6. The entire airport has shut down and flights diverted to other airports.
iReporter Val Vaden captured this photo while waiting in a departure lounge at the San Francisco airport on July 6. Val observed the billowing smoke and emergency responders' rush in.
iReporter Val Vaden captured this photo while waiting in a departure lounge at the San Francisco airport on July 6. Val observed the billowing smoke and emergency responders' rush in.
iReporter Sven Duenwald was at home on July 6 when he saw smoke rising into the air near the San Francisco International Airport.
iReporter Sven Duenwald was at home on July 6 when he saw smoke rising into the air near the San Francisco International Airport.
iReporter Timothy Clark was standing on the eighth floor of the Embassy Suites Airport Hotel when he heard a loud crashing sound from outside. "My daughter told me she heard a plane crash. I used my camera to get a clearer view and I could see a dust cloud. Then people running from the plane, then flames," he said.
iReporter Timothy Clark was standing on the eighth floor of the Embassy Suites Airport Hotel when he heard a loud crashing sound from outside. "My daughter told me she heard a plane crash. I used my camera to get a clearer view and I could see a dust cloud. Then people running from the plane, then flames," he said.
A photo provided to CNN by Eunice Bird Rah -- and shot by her father, who was a passenger on the plane -- shows flames and smoke bursting out of many of the aircraft's windows.
A photo provided to CNN by Eunice Bird Rah -- and shot by her father, who was a passenger on the plane -- shows flames and smoke bursting out of many of the aircraft's windows.
David Eun, a passenger on Asiana Airlines Flight 214, posted this image to Path.com along with the message, "I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine, I'm ok. Surreal..." It was one of the first photographs taken after the crash.
David Eun, a passenger on Asiana Airlines Flight 214, posted this image to Path.com along with the message, "I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine, I'm ok. Surreal..." It was one of the first photographs taken after the crash.
Plane crash-lands in San Francisco
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
The navigation aid that syncs up with aircraft instruments was out of service while the Federal Aviation Administration made runway safety improvements. But a second, visual lighting system was operable at the time of the daytime crash and the weather was clear.
The safety board investigation is focusing on whether pilots have become overly reliant on automation to fly commercial planes, and whether basic manual flying skills have eroded.
Investigators have also focused on the pilot understanding -- or misunderstanding -- of the plane's auto-thrust system, which controls aircraft power.
Some of the crew of the Asiana flight from Seoul told investigators the auto thrust was always engaged.
But the safety board has said that system was not engaged, and the jet descended in altitude faster than it should have, and had a slower forward speed than intended.
The combination put the plane into a perilous situation in the final minute of flight.
The relief first officer, Bong Dongwon, who was sitting behind Lee and instructor pilot Lee Jungmin, said he observed the fast descent -- or sink rate -- and called out the excessive sink rate "more than four times."
Bong told investigators the pilot appeared to be correcting the "sink rate" and did not advise further changes.
But its speed was declining at about the same time. The plane was flying at 170 knots 73 seconds before impact, dropped below the target speed for landing of 137 knots at roughly 38 seconds before impact, and plummeted as low as 103 knots just seconds before the plane's front landing gear and tail hit the sea wall at the end of the runway.
The crew made its first reference to the plane's speed problem just seven seconds before the crash.
The pilot called out a "go around" -- a command to abort the landing -- three seconds before impact.
Boeing's former chief pilot for the B777 program said automated systems are intended to help pilots, but that they still need to exercise diligence.
"We accept the fact that pilots, as all humans, make errors," he said. Automation is intended "as a tool to aid the pilot, not replace the pilot," he said.
Information released at Wednesday's hearing also showed investigators are concerned about the role Korean and airline culture played in the crash.
Bong said the crew practiced "cockpit resource management," training that encourages subordinates to speak up about safety concerns to other crew members, despite their senior rank, experience or seniority.
But when Lee -- who was considered a student pilot in the 777 -- was asked whether he had contemplated an aborted landing as the plane descended, he said it was a "very hard" decision to make, given the deference shown to superiors in Korean culture.
By the time Lee pushed the throttle forward just seconds before impact, he discovered his instructor had already done so.
Three passengers died in the accident -- two in the crash and a third on the ground when hit by a rescue truck responding to the scene.
The accident was the first fatal commercial airline crash in the United States since February 2009.
Crash survivor Ben Levy told CNN he was forfeiting an opportunity to watch the proceedings.
"I think something that I've done quickly after this plane crash has been to focus on work and family and things that matter to me," Levy said. "I'm extremely happy that something is being done to get to the bottom of what happened that day because it should not have happened."
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.