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Falcon Business Jet Crash at Moscow Airport - 4 killed
DEVELOPING STORY: Not clear what type of Falcon Jet. At least 4 killed although reports of 5 bodies recovered. Reportedly hit a snow plow on takeoff (rt.com) Mais...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I can't believe the comments from Desmond Ross on RT News concerning the weather as a definite cause for the crash of Total’s Falcon in Russia and the possibility that the crew may have made a decision to fly when they should have not. Of course, the weather is a cause: no snow, no snow plow! As for the crew’s decision pressured by the presence of the Total’s senior officer on board, what are we talking about, bush flying in the fifties? Ever heard of weather minimums at controlled airports? As far as the crew is concerned, it is pretty simple: did they or did they not received a take-off clearance from ATC and, if they did, was the take-off roll carried on the runway for which the clearance was issued? A takeoff clearance from ATC only guaranties that the runway is clear of manmade obstacles, plows, trucks, aircrafts and so on. So, what is the answer? ATC tapes should be enough…
This is translated from Russian Investigators at MAK who are investigating the crash - I've no idea what a RT reporter thinks or says - but these are the facts released so far.
• Takeoff from runway 06 was carried out (magnetic heading 58 degrees) at taxiway A11. The distance from the start of take-off to the point of collision with Snow blower ~ 1000 meters. The collision occurred at the intersection of the runways (the so-called "crossing").
• At the time of take-off as the following weather conditions: surface wind 120 ° - 3 m / s; at the beginning of runway 06: visibility - 350m, RVR¹ - 1000m; in the middle of the runway 06: visibility - 1000m, RVR - 2100m; slight drizzle, fog.
• At the time of the event the aircraft was under the control of start dispatcher of "tower". Control of the aircraft was carried out by trainee dispatcher under the supervision of a training controller.
• When issuing a dispatcher clearance to take off the runway was clear. The crew confirmed cleared for takeoff.
• After about 10 seconds after the confirmation by the crew of permission to take off the subsystem monitoring the airfield in the control point "tower" recorded movement of the snow thrower on the left edge of the runway 19 in a southerly direction towards the crossing.
• Neither a Request for permission for crossing the runway by the snowplow nor other communications were recorded on the tower audio recorder between the crew confirmed permission to take off and the accident.
• After ~ 14 seconds after the beginning of the aircraft take-off the crew observed an object, identified by them as "car crossing the road" (a phrase in French). The observation of this object did not cause concern and crew continued the take-off in the usual manner in compliance with standard operating procedures. ~ 14 seconds later the aircraft collided with a snowplow. The crew saw the snowplow just before the collision, after the normal command to lift the nose wheel.
• At the moment of collision with a snowplow the aircraft was in the air, the indicated airspeed was about 134 knots (~ 248 km / h). After the collision began to develop intensively right bank, which led to the collision of the aircraft with the ground.
• Failures in the operation of the aircraft systems and engines prior to the collision with a snowplow have not been identified.
• Takeoff from runway 06 was carried out (magnetic heading 58 degrees) at taxiway A11. The distance from the start of take-off to the point of collision with Snow blower ~ 1000 meters. The collision occurred at the intersection of the runways (the so-called "crossing").
• At the time of take-off as the following weather conditions: surface wind 120 ° - 3 m / s; at the beginning of runway 06: visibility - 350m, RVR¹ - 1000m; in the middle of the runway 06: visibility - 1000m, RVR - 2100m; slight drizzle, fog.
• At the time of the event the aircraft was under the control of start dispatcher of "tower". Control of the aircraft was carried out by trainee dispatcher under the supervision of a training controller.
• When issuing a dispatcher clearance to take off the runway was clear. The crew confirmed cleared for takeoff.
• After about 10 seconds after the confirmation by the crew of permission to take off the subsystem monitoring the airfield in the control point "tower" recorded movement of the snow thrower on the left edge of the runway 19 in a southerly direction towards the crossing.
• Neither a Request for permission for crossing the runway by the snowplow nor other communications were recorded on the tower audio recorder between the crew confirmed permission to take off and the accident.
• After ~ 14 seconds after the beginning of the aircraft take-off the crew observed an object, identified by them as "car crossing the road" (a phrase in French). The observation of this object did not cause concern and crew continued the take-off in the usual manner in compliance with standard operating procedures. ~ 14 seconds later the aircraft collided with a snowplow. The crew saw the snowplow just before the collision, after the normal command to lift the nose wheel.
• At the moment of collision with a snowplow the aircraft was in the air, the indicated airspeed was about 134 knots (~ 248 km / h). After the collision began to develop intensively right bank, which led to the collision of the aircraft with the ground.
• Failures in the operation of the aircraft systems and engines prior to the collision with a snowplow have not been identified.
Some said they hit on ground; others said they hit on t/o. Either way they crashed and dead. Just curious.
Russia and UK press are reporting the driver of the vehicle was drunk.
UPDATE: Tail number of the doomed aircraft F-GSLA according to Flight Global. A/C operated by "Unijet"
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/vnukovo-runway-incursion-kills-total-oil-chief-and-three-falcon-50-404999/
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/vnukovo-runway-incursion-kills-total-oil-chief-and-three-falcon-50-404999/
https://twitter.com/bizjet101 photo and video from crash site - aircraft was a Falcon 50EX (2006 build) registered to a French Drug company but operated by charter company Unijet, Paris.
PICTURE: First picture of the driver of the snow plow who it is alleged was drunk at the time he collided with the jet.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0c8KXaIIAAdzUn.png:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0c8KXaIIAAdzUn.png:large