Racing The Storm | American Airlines Flight 1420

[@michaelreynolds3592]

Wow... not sure if it's the same.. but, my flight from Williston, ND to St. Paul, Minneapolis was delayed for 4 hours, caused everyone to miss their connection... no problem for me, however... The cause of the delay, the captain refused to fly to get us due to possible inclement snow storms approaching and he wanted a new plane. He got a brand new one, don't remember what type... but I won't forget his name... his announcement? "Ladies and Gentlemen.. my apologies for the delays, but my request took some time, however, due to experience the plane I started with did not have the configuration I wanted to safely navigate thru possible bad weather. And I would like to land you and myself safely at St. Paul..." His name ? Captain Mike Origel.

[@AllecJoshuaIbay]

Woah....

[@esthertorres2800]

+Allec Joshua Ibay I love jal 12r

[@pv.trevor]

OMG Thats Crazy

[@riaavilla9927]

Michael Reynolds f Q🚓🚔🚔

[@gabep1835]

Michael Reynolds American Airlines is Ok But SouthWest Is Better

[@mjl1966y]

Some years ago, after I had read the NTSB report for this incident, I was on a Delta flight inbound to CMH and the pilot diverted us to Cincinnati. While we were on the ground at CVG, I dialed up Flightaware on my laptop and watched the tracks going in under the bad weather, just like the investigation had discovered as a result of this incident. It gave me chills to see pilots doing the exact same thing live while I was on the only bird where the pilot had the sanity to divert. I tried to thank him on the way out by telling him I'd looked at the tracks on Flightaware and told him that all the other pilots were going in. Before I could finish, he cut me off and said he did what he thought was best. I was going to tell him "and I'm glad you're not one of them," but I never got the chance because he kind of blew me off at that point. I've always felt bad about leaving him with the mistaken impression that I was complaining, but I was damn grateful that I was on the one plane where the pilot had the discipline to divert.

[@hattrickster33]

I can understand why he acted like that. Its pretty sad but most of the comments pilots get from passengers are probably complaints, esp. when they divert. It probably didn't help that you told him the other pilots are attempting the approach. That kind of thing almost always come across like "other guys are doing it just fine, so why were you too scared to try?"

[@scottcasey825]

What about what the pilot 'Feels?'

[@davez5201]

Maybe start with "thankyou" next time, so there's no confusion.

[@GarrettWorcester]

Next time? There won't be a "next time!" (He's probably hoping)

[@nixworld767]

@USS Voyager No, they don't "land safely in thunderstorms everyday". I've flown 30 years for a major airline and can tell you we are trained to AVOID thunderstorms. A thunderstorm over the field is an automatic diversion or holding in my book. Planes land in the RAIN everyday, not thunderstorms. Big difference.

[@av8rjacq486]

36 years of flying and I'm dumbfounded as to why pilots take chances. I will not risk peoples lives. I much rather you are late to your destination than to be known as the late John Doe

[@nenblom]

av8r jacq Thank you. I’m wondering why these pilots didn’t divert to Nashville or go back to DFW.

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

Amen to that. The alternative is just not worth hotdogging.

[@vexxevxevvex2622]

@Bg Labelle True. If people have an interview, meeting, sporting event, concert, convention or whatever to get to in another city, they should schedule their flight to depart a day or two before that event if they can, instead of right before it. Just try to schedule time before an event in case delays/cancellations happen.

[@jyralnadreth4442]

I am not a pilot, more of a sailor and I was thinking divert over and over again. The weather was atrocious and flying into a bowling alley like this incident is asking for trouble. Better late than dead

[@nenblom]

Jyral Nadreth My thoughts exactly.

[@kendalldavis1400]

These videos are addicting. Great work dude. For someone who is scared of flying these are strangely interesting to watch.

[@JK-g62]

I couldn't agree more...they are addicting and I HATE flying

[@Maplelust]

it's not strange. that's very typical if anything.

[@MisterSolitude]

what the fuck is addicting? english?

[@alvaroakatico9188]

Mis-ter Solitude “Using addicting as an adjective is not wrong, but addictive is the safer choice” according to Webster’s dictionary.

[@swc19972000]

He does a really good job. Most of these mishaps have led to changes in regulations and airline policies which have led to safer air travel, and his videos allow the average person to understand the why and how.

[@stk6mkt]

The Captain, "You start pointing in the right direction, I'll start slowing." That doesn't exactly give that warm, cozy feeling as a passenger.

[@flyinghow]

I remember this crash...it was totally avoidable all the way to the ground. Another crazy aspect of the flight was that the chief pilot for American out of Chicago was flying! Hello!!! Neither of them were convinced they could do this safely but they plodded on. Tragic.

[@aurorathearcticwolf4243]

They forgot about a little something called AIRBRAKES (speedbrakes) for proper FAA terms

[@Milesco]

@@aurorathearcticwolf4243 : Exactly, but considering how bad the conditions were, they really shouldn't have tried to land there at all.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

Get there itis

[@jhnsb]

It’s cause I was born this exact day

[@tammystewart10]

@@Milesco well they touched the ground safely they just didn't AIRBREAK like the above person stated.

[@1793912]

I was three miles from the airport the night of this accident. The windshere was so strong with this storm that it rocked a line of tractor trailers loaded with over 45,000 pounds of boxed beef back and forth like play toys. I always wanted to tell the pilots wife that line of thunderstorms was the worst series of downdrafts I had ever experienced in two decades of storm chasing. The drafts were almost vertical columns of wind. The wind guest were in excess of 70 mph and sustained for over four minutes. They placed the blame on the pilot. Yet the air traffic controllers failed to inform him of the severity and the power of the system. It was a miracle that they even got the plane on the ground. It was a series of miscalculations. Typical of most airline accidents.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Doesn't help that the two didn't seem to listen to or understand 80% of what each of em were saying!

[@usmcvet0313]

It's actually a testament to their skill that they set the plane on the runway, they just forgot to arm the damn spoilers with everything else going on. One mistake was all it took.

[@apeters38]

USMC Vet yep agreed had they done that the plane still probably would have skidded but not as bad and they probably would have stopped before it crashed.

[@johnlorenzen4633]

@@usmcvet0313 what's a spoiler?

[@usmcvet0313]

@@johnlorenzen4633 www.compositesworld.com/articles/function-and-operation-of-aircraft-spoilers

[@jamesleveille-bonner4536]

I remember this well. A colleague and I were scheduled to fly from Dallas to Little Rock early in the morning after the crash. My flight was canceled but they were able to get us on another flight. Obviously I knew we were flying in shortly after the crash, but the pain we were on was packed (as usual), but very quiet and the fight attendants were passing out liquor like I had never seen for it to be so early in the morning. It wasn’t until after we got off the plain that we learned a large portion of the passengers were family of the victims. Flying into an airport shortly after a crash, seeing wreckage from the air, and learning I had been sitting amongst the victims family was spine chilling. When you only see this type of tragedy on the television is one thing, you are still somewhat removed, but being amongst the people involved in the aftermath is completely different.

[@seattlewa1984]

"Should we land?" Um, well if you have to ask...

[@rrknl5187]

The worst possible thing you can hear in a cockpit is "Where are we?" "Should we land" has got to be a close second..........

[@nancydavis1391]

THESE PILOTS KILLED PPL BY DELIBERATELY LANDING IN A BAD STORM, THEY SHOULD HAVE FLOWN TO ANOTHER AIRPORT

[@robertgantry2118]

Matt Olson - lol... no shit! hahaha!

[@christophdollis1955]

And if you have to ask many times ... Jesus. And if you DO land on a wet runway with pouring rain, you deploy the goddamn spoilers! Christ.

[@nenblom]

Nancy Davis Like Nashville or even back to DFW.

[@rjb073]

Crosswinds and windshear, that's all I needed to hear and it's "Good-bye Little Rock and hello Nashville." And, American didn't have the spoilers being armed on their checklist prior to this accident?

[@Scott1433]

Is it just me or is the Captain letting the First Officer control the situation too much? This is a very experienced Captain working with a new co-pilot but by the way that they are talking the co-pilot seems over confident and the Captain is allowing that over confidence to persuade him to land when he clearly isn't happy with the approach. When the Captain starting making remarks about not being happy with the approach, surely that was the moment to abandon it

[@ernestkovach3305]

The opposite. The pilot was a reckless ,negligent, incompetent fool and one wonders if he was on alcohol, drugs, or meds... or past his prime vision and ability wise ...he should have been relieved of command, either of the other two or both made decisions that GREATLY helped save at least some lives though ALL THREE should have been fired for allowing the craft to proceed. Divert or return...Their collective allowance to go in the face of such adverse conditions was a SHOCKINGLY RECKLESS and INCOMPETENT decision.

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

Scott1433 Thought the same. The captain seemed a less confident person.

[@embracinglogic1744]

Yes, that is what I thought as well. Captain was bending over for that co-pilot.

[@Pushyhog]

Bullshat, capt was problem big time.

[@Maplelust]

why would it just be you? silly question. lolz.

[@olentangy74]

I am watching their descent, and I am saying to myself, wave off, and divert!

[@patriciagodfrey6345]

It's hard for me to write this, it was hard for me to watch this - to see the hole in the plane where my friend was simply shredded. I think of her often, and never fail to get angry and wonder if they have plans in place to ensure that no pilot can make that stupid decision again. Divert and put them on buses. If they had my friend would still be alive.

[@califcamper]

Patricia Godfrey truly sorry about your friend, im pretty sure someone would say they had procedure back then to not let this happen, however no one takes into account a pilots IQ. This had several things happen that warned them for a go around, but they simply did not do it. I think about the morons I work with now(complete different job), and it seems like people are even stupider nowadays. Your right they better get more in place, like a complete program that automatically puts them in a go around pattern, like an overide...

[@nenblom]

So sorry for your loss. It is beyond me how the pilots could have forgotten to arm the spoilers.

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

Patricia Godfrey So sorry for your loss

[@nenblom]

Patricia Godfrey I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. RIP. I’m no pilot but I’m wondering why they didn’t divert to Nashville or even fly back to DFW!

[@christophdollis1955]

If they'd have deployed the bloody spoilers, as you always do on a wet runway with poor breaking conditions, everyone would have lived. They SHOULD have diverted, yet they STILL would have lived. The pilots were reckless.

[@seeburg220]

Used to have an AA credit card, until after this crash, when AA’s lawyers tried unsuccessfully to sue the FAA as well as the tower controller. This was ALL on the Captain. I read the NTSB report and the controller issued the wind and wx several times before the crash. The scumbag lawyers tried to pin it on the controller, even naming him in the press, which was unprecedented. Normally, only the FAA would be named. As a former controller, I found this unacceptable and haven’t flown on AA since.

[@DowntownCanon]

Much the same way they tried blaming Flight 191 on McDonnell Douglas when it was their own faulty maintenance procedures that caused it.

[@patfarra627]

seeburg220 I heard that he was also a chief pilot and copilot was on probation. First year.

[@robertstack2144]

@@DowntownCanon also on 191, the FAA knew how AA was removing/installing engines improperly and using a forklift to do it

[@johannesbols57]

Good for you. I would have wanted to do the same.

[@gusmc01]

Wouldn't say it was ALL on the captain. His FO kept pushing him when it was clear he wasn't comfortable.

[@lowellmings]

This was a horrible day for many families in Arkansas. I'm glad that you included the others who died from complications after the crash. Most things I have read or watched didn't. I worked at Arkansas Children's hospital, at the time. It had the only Burn unit in the State of Arkansas. Many of the injured had severe burns. I remember one young lady especially because of the family mostly. She survived and was able to go home but when she came back for more surgery and burn treatment it was just to much for her body to take and she passed away. I think of her, her family, and others from the University that were on this flight frequently, Thank you for the video.

[@crashtech66]

The captain sounded disoriented the entire time, which under different circumstances may have prompted the first officer to ask for the airplane, but their experience levels were so different that the first officer probably felt too beneath the captain to be more assertive. I don't know if the outcome would have been any different, but it seems to me that the pilot that is clearly displaying better situational awareness (and better eyesight?) probably ought to have control of the plane in that kind of situation.

[@Nocgirl]

crashtech66 agreed. It was annoying how many times he said he couldn’t see and didn’t know where he was. Yet continued to land.

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

I don’t know about asking for control; just saying firmly “Go around, Bob” would have done the trick, more than likely.

[@abc-wv4in]

@@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043 But I got the impression it was the FO who had the rose colored glasses on.

[@dezznutz3743]

I noticed the same. I came to the conclusion halfway through this video that First Officer was a better pilot then the Captain. This may be harsh to say but its pretty "fair" for fate to decide it was the captain to meet his Maker and not the First Officer.

[@nabirasch5169]

@@dezznutz3743 Except that the 1st officer didn't think of the spoilers either--pretty basic--and seemed to encourage the landing by indicating he could see.

[@Prince_.A]

I'm and EMT here in Little Rock. I remember when they showed us pictures for the crash and the dead people on the runway. A lot of people died gruesome deaths. Some who initially survived died trying to help people get out the burning plane. RIP. Safe travels into the beyond.

[@majorcalvary6515]

In Aug 1995, I was on Singapore Airlines Boeing 747, LAX to TPE. We landed just prior to arrival of a typhoon. I’ve been flying and travel for work for all my professional career. I’ve never as frightened like this before or since. As we were approaching Taipei CKS airport, cross wind literally pushed us off the approach. Pilot had to abandon the landing and go around. The rain was so heavy, it felt like they were bullets hitting the plane. The second approach, we got lucky, no strong wind pushed us We barely landed. We cheered and clapped for our safe landing.

[@indianahoosiersfan1970]

There was a hurricane offshore in Hawaii when my plane landed. I think I literally turned green from the turbulence.

[@kevinmalone3210]

The pilots were off course on their approach, flying directly into a thunderstorm, visibility went below limits, lost sight of the runway, lost situational awareness, strong wind gusts, lost the ILS, windshear alerts, yet they still decided to land. With all they were dealing with, it is not surprising they forgot to arm the spoilers. They needed to divert to Nashville, it would've saved those people's lives.

[@abc-wv4in]

Well said!

[@gwag8410]

I remember this well.. those guys sure were hell bent on landing in Little Rock. I remember flying into XNA in northwest Arkansas in similar conditions. I could see the fear in the flight attendant’s eyes. They had mentioned diverting to Memphis but didn’t, and flew right into a hellacious thunderstorm ... my wife and I were glad to have our feet on the ground.

[@katygilday6985]

The Captain definitely started to sound stressed and confused as they approached and entered the thunderstorm

[@brucepowell9252]

Bad weather and bad decisions spelled disaster. They were lucky just to get it down.

[@martinstudenec1863]

Rtold gihj9im&

[@chassinclair5094]

K.G. - Now, there is just too much homosexual sex happening in the cockpit.

[@delstanley1349]

+Katy Gilday>After the fourth "I don't see it," and the approach of yet another storm seems like that should have been enough to divert. DFW is only about 1 to 1.5 hours away. In an emergency Memphis is less than an hour away. The captain was 48 and the FO was 35, I get the impression the Cap thought he might get showed up by the FO as being too old to be in the cockpit, so he forges ahead into a storm with the assurance by the FO that "its there," (the airport). Too much uncertainty and apprehension to continue flying into a storm.

[@bruzote]

@@delstanley1349 - I wonder if Origel had carrier landing experience in his Navy day. Those guys can fly in the blind until they are very close to their destination carrier. Maybe that affected one aspect of his approach to safety.

[@bobbastion7335]

"The investigation uncovered that a lot of pilots will try to land in bad weather". "Pilots exhibited more recklessness if they fell behind schedule" but we'll just PRETEND we don't know why.

[@onemercilessming1342]

Bob Bastion--I'll give voice to it. The airline corporations don't like a hefty late arrivals statistic. Pilots feel pressure to get people to the destination on time. so they take chances that prudence would otherwise preclude.

[@testmail8982]

This one time I was on a flight from seattle to pasco washington it was suppose to be an hour and 30 minute flight but it was delayed an hour. They got there in 30 minutes.

[@onemercilessming1342]

@@testmail8982--Only on the day you changed from Daylight Savings to Standard Time or had one helluva tail wind.

[@erauprcwa]

@@testmail8982 Flight times are overblocked on some routes due to known delays. A flight may normally take 30 minutes, but they will block it for over an hour to account for any air traffic delays. This also fudges the numbers with on-time arrivals. It actually makes sense... Think about how busy Seatac airport can get. Sometimes it can take over an hour to depart, so, schedulers will over block a flight by an hour to account for such delays.

[@EnergeticWaves]

they don't want to be laughed at by other pilots for being wimps. so they take chances and people die.

[@califcamper]

Once I landed in a storm, I couldnt even see the wing, the plane bounced on landing but he controlled it, when I got off the plane the "young" pilot was standing there and I could see stress on his face, like he was saying "damn that was too close"...sucked he probly was under stress from airline, his day ending somewhere else etc they dont pay them enough these days

[@kaytlinchappel3404]

I just got home 2 days ago and our pilot said his visibility was only 2 miles but he said that the minimum is .5 miles. The plane before us was an hour late and one had to turn back around. It was 11 pm and I had my 3 year old daughter with me and my husband not to mention I'm also pregnant. Me and my husband looked at each other worried about flying but we had to try to be calm and relaxed. Our takeoff was good but you couldn't even see the wings outside you couldn't see anything. When we started to descend down to Boise we had bad turbulence and we had like a bumpy vibrating sensation for like 5 min... I saw lightening and fog. It honestly was scary and I couldn't tell if we were landing or not. We finally made touch down in Boise and the pilot came out of the cockpit. Seeing his face was a relieve cuz you could tell he was a veteran pilot and he was pretty old. I always wondered why he came out to greet us all

[@nabirasch5169]

@@kaytlinchappel3404 Came out to congratulate you for your luck.

[@nabirasch5169]

Paying them more won't cure stupid.

[@cherylfesta6926]

knightfive you’re absolutely right...they don’t pay them enough....sad

[@Sincopare]

As the saying goes, THERE ARE NO OLD, BOLD PILOTS. My sympathy to the friends and families of the lost souls.

[@thereallincolntakanashi]

Sincopare I have NEVER heard anyone say that. But I like it. - Lincoln's Aviation

[@rogerpattube]

The full saying I heard goes, 'There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots...'

[@Maplelust]

@@rogerpattube that one is way better. that's the saying. I don't know what that other crap is.

[@flyjet787]

As a Flight Attendant for the same airline, had they decided to divert, there would be passengers who'd carve me a new one. We can fly into unsettlingly bad turbulence, be surrounded by lightning, etc. There are always folks who'll go nuts ringing their call light while complaining, "I'm going to miss my friend's wedding - what is AA going to do about it?!", "This airline is pathetic, we're 2 hours late and now we aren't even going to land?!", "I'm never flying this airline again! We were late getting to our vacation rental because of bad weather in Florida. Now you can't even get us back home? Look at my daughter, she's exhausted, I expect a refund. Who do I talk to to get my money back?!" Sigh.....It's hard to keep one's faith in humanity after 30 years of that. The passengers also exert pressure on the pilots - they know how ticked everyone will be and they want their airline not to be one of the hundreds of others to go bankrupt.

[@indianahoosiersfan1970]

I believe ya and I feel for you.. Years ago, I was on a Pittsburgh to Seattle flight and the plane got switched (mechanical failure). This jackass got ticked they got a new plane to put us on...I got stopped by my stepmom when I wanted to tell him off.

[@firemangan]

Just watching/reading about the incidents is enough to humble me about your jobs over the years and now I just enjoy the view on my window when bored. Y’all are strong for putting up with such pudgy people

[@flyjet787]

@@firemangan "pudgy" = my new favorite word 👍

[@MegaBakerdude]

These two are lucky they even got the aircraft on the runway. Very sad and reckless.

[@WallStreetWill86]

As a passenger, I would rather be later than hell and still alive rather than dead because of a rush job. Fly safely out there pilots.

[@williamsimmons152]

Holy crap! How many cues do you need to "don't do this"?

[@aurorathearcticwolf4243]

1.9 ZILLION seems fair

[@StephenLuke]

RIP Richard Buschmann (1950-1999) and To the 10 passengers of American Airlines Flight 1420

[@Davemac1116]

I thought they were going to make it there at the end. I'm sorry they didn't. Watching these videos can be so saddening...the professionalism and integrity of these pilots and crew in difficult circumstances is quite poignant. What a difficult job they do.

[@wildgurgs3614]

Not to mention Allec is REALLY good at making these videos.

[@ernestkovach3305]

Thank God Literally that most of those on board survived.

[@newwomyn]

I remember that. I was living in Little Rock at the time of the crash. The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Pulaski County, this included Little Rock. 4R/22L is a southwest to northeast runway on the east side of the field. The storm in question came over the downtown area. The airport is just north of I-440, south of the Arkansas River, and east of downtown Little Rock. 22L would have taken them over the east side of North Little Rock and over the Arkansas River. 4R would have taken them over I-440 and Fourche Creek, which is between the airport perimeter and I-440. It is also right in line with Bankhead Drive. Where the aircraft came to rest was just a few yards from the Arkansas River.

[@patmasonbayouboogie4859]

Cause of accident was breathtaking stupidity. I lost count of how many situations arose where the approach should have been broken off.

[@scottcasey825]

Captain Buschmann seemed confused too many times.

[@scoobycarr5558]

One important fact to remember about flying in inclement weather - never fly during a thunderstorm. You will have possibly wind shear. If I were flying, I would rather have my flight delayed or canceled instead of taking off or landing in a storm. Remember the sole survivor in Detroit?

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

So many chances to divert.

[@j.l.wickham2531]

While learning to fly, my Uncle Larry always beat into my head the power of storms. He flew 25 missions in Europe in B-24'S & 31 missions in the Pacific in B-29'S.

[@obrien247]

I remember this night. The sky’s was like a disco there was so much lightning. Probably more than I’ve ever seen here. My friend was working ramp and says he still has nightmares about it. He was first on the scene at the crash and carried many people out of the plan to safety. Ever since he said he could no longer perform the job and was never once compensated for any medical, leave, or even therapy but that other employees that worked the counter was surprisingly taken care of. Just a bad deal all around even after everything he did and lives saved. He said the tower didn’t even know what happened until they called it in headed towards the crash. One would think the tower would have watched the plane all the way but must of turned their head when the pilot said they touched down.

[@Sarah.Riedel]

Why on earth the landing was not diverted is beyond me it was clear to both the cockpit and the ground crew.

[@MJLeger-yj1ww]

A 10-minute delay in landing shouldn't be a concern when you're 2 hours late taking off, unless, of course, that storm is moving fast. It looked like they were all over the runway at the end (if that was a real video). I've seen that before, pushing it if they're behind schedule and taking chances. It doesn't matter if the aircraft in front of you landed okay, just a few seconds can make a difference, if he had fuel, he should have averted and gone to another safer airport. Too bad. Better to be late and alive than on time and dead. Schedule chomping doesn't pay!

[@barnybrewman1571]

When in doubt, get the fluck out. Find an alternate landing strip, and live to fly another day.

[@flagmichael]

When odds are stacking up even in driving someplace in weather, I am always relieved when I decide to get out of harm's way.

[@rachelames5894]

rest in peace the people who lost their lives

[@tomb4568]

I remember that night I was at work and my lightning detection was just off the scale assoc with the storms in W central AR that evening. I had a flight send an ACARS message to me saying "You should see this lightning!" I told them I am I'm watching on the display! Some of the most active storms lightning wise I have ever seen and very impressive on radar as well! Nothing I would want to fly near!

[@mvfc7637]

This is one of the classic episodes on Air Crash Investigation, it's definitely worth watching.

[@SilkWayFan]

congratulations for 10k! Keep it up! I love all your videoes!!👍👍

[@johnknowing-zr8de]

This is a classic sign and sometimes to prevalent in pilots with type "A" personality that they can beat the odds and to divert is to show weakness that their first decision to land at that airport was wrong. While that's going on add the storm increasing the odds of forgetting something like the speed brakes/spoilers

[@smaze1782]

Love your videos man. Edge of my seat even though I know what happens 😉

[@smaze1782]

Very surprised they didn't abort the approach and go around. Or maybe hold till the storm passed. Another case of the dreaded "get-thereitus.

[@smaze1782]

Not that I know of.

[@ronburgundy8423]

Another well done piece. The more i watch these, the more it is putting me off stepping on a plane again but they are so very watchable and intriguing i can't help myself!

[@lynnelorch3590]

I was a stewardess years ago and flew throgh several very rough landings i.e. Memphis thunderstorm and a blizzard in Buffalo. My gosh i can't imagine not aborting the landing and diverting to Nashville. Dire weather like t-storms can change quickly and you dont mess around with possible windshear. This sounds like pilot overconfidence to me

[@tdickensheets]

Multiple lawsuits were filed after the crash, and on December 15, 1999, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated the various federal lawsuits for consolidated and coordinated pretrial proceedings and assigned the case to the late United States District Court Senior Judge Henry Woods of the Eastern District of Arkansas. In the lawsuits, the passengers sought compensatory and punitive damages from American Airlines. Judge Woods separated the passenger cases into those involving domestic and international passengers, because different laws governed the rights of the claimants in each category. For example, passengers traveling on international tickets were prohibited by an international treaty (the Warsaw Convention) from recovering punitive damages. Therefore, Woods ruled that only the domestic passengers would be permitted to pursue punitive damages claims.[7] The compensatory damages claims proceeded first. American Airlines "admitted liability for the crash and individual trials were scheduled to assess the proper amount of compensatory damages. Thereafter American Airlines reached settlement agreements with a majority of the domestic Plaintiffs."[8] "Three compensatory damages trials involving domestic Plaintiffs were ultimately tried to a jury and awards of $5.7 million, $3.4 million and $4.2 million were made."[8] These three Plaintiffs pursued but ultimately lost their claims for punitive damages. The District Court granted summary judgment in American Airlines' favor on punitive damages, finding under Arkansas law the evidence was insufficient to submit the issue to a jury to decide.[8] This ruling was later upheld on appeal.[9] In the only liability trial arising out of the crash of Flight 1420, a federal jury in Little Rock awarded Captain Buschmann's family $2 million in wrongful-death damages following a lawsuit they had filed against Little Rock National Airport.[10] The jury decided Buschmann's death occurred because the aircraft collided with illegal non-frangible approach light supports erected in what should have been the runway safety area. It was concluded that the airport failed to comply with airport safety standards. Buschmann's estate presented evidence that the spoilers were deployed and had malfunctioned (not through the captain's fault), and that the aircraft did not encounter turbulence.[11] The jury rejected the airport's argument that Buschmann was at fault in causing his own death.[10] It has been stated the jury verdict completely absolved Buschmann of all fault for the crash.[11] However, the NTSB has not changed its probable cause ruling, and American Airlines admitted liability for the crash and "paid many millions of dollars in damages to the passengers and their families."[10] About 10 years after the crash, David Rapoport, a lawyer who was a member of the court-appointed Plaintiffs' Steering Committee,[12] stated that "after all these years [whether Captain Buschmann was "absolved" of all responsibility for the crash] is still a matter reasonable people who are fully informed may disagree on", however, there should be consensus "flight operations should not be conducted in the terminal area when thunderstorms are on the flight path; and non-frangible objects should not be placed where it is foreseeable an aircraft may go en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_1420

[@johnmcclain2848]

"I just want to tell you both good luck, we're all counting on you!"

[@davidprince1138]

Classic movie.

[@stevevenn1]

Plane was showing gladiator movies that trip.

[@michaelscott-joynt3215]

I know I have the aid of hindsight, but just hearing about this bowling alley approach is beyond sketchy, also called threading the needle. Anyone who lives in a region that sees intense storms would know how quickly weather moves and changes, and it was an eternity from being 80 miles out until their final approach. I could see if they were close to the airport, but it's crazy to think that bowling alley was going to stay open that long. They were already late. I call this flying like you have a plane to catch.

[@ChristopherSaindon]

I was Chief Meteorologist at a small Mississippi CBS affiliate that day and was horrified to hear someone tried to go near those cells!

[@indianahoosiersfan1970]

And he paid for it with his life

[@marksamuelsen2750]

Now retired. I remember how some nights after being up all day throw in xwinds, thunder storms, runway change, redo the FMS’s every minute feels like 20, all I want is to go to bed. Not yet. Keep the speed up. Why. I’m tired. Damn winds. Shit... Goddamn it. BOOM I never damaged an aircraft but I know what this poor guy went through.

[@roblaa3198]

damn that F.O needed to shut his pie hole and discourage the landing and head somewhere else

[@Ender-hm1dh]

“ cause I know plane stuff”

[@indianahoosiersfan1970]

When they had the investigation, one of the victims felt they did not ask the first officer the right questions about this accident.

[@cherripaterson6066]

good video Allec, that bad weather mad a mess of things. but they flew right into a storm, and were told not be a good idea. but they were virtually flying into the blind. bery scary. sad for the loss of life...

[@cupidstunt22]

This series you are doing is fascinating and tragic with the lives lost. Keep posting!

[@lowellmings]

I dont remember if it was mentioned in this video but both pilot and co pilot were within minutes of the maximum allowed time to fly without sleep also. They had been delayed in leaving DFW . They should have never cut it that close and just switched pilots in Dallas. Better late than...never.

[@redwolfmendoza]

@AJI Your flight video are dope! You obviously spend hours and hour doing research. Im amazed your able to find any real footage or news coverage of each flight you recreate.

[@sepehrsalimi2606]

Awesome and congrats for 10,000 man!

[@larrrikin8614]

I live in little rock and just don’t realize that things like this happen in our state So many people don’t care about it but lots of things have happened there this being one of them Loved the video though thanks for the good content!

[@katemaloney4296]

All I know is: If I had been a passenger on that flight, I would have been begging to let them allow me to get off. Just the windshear against the plane, rocking it, would be enough for me to say "This is where I get off." So you get reprimanded for making the passengers late and miss connections; it's better than having to explain to St Peter why you and your passengers are dead.

[@markmonse5285]

As a dispatcher (for another airline, not AA) I was working that night, and remember the weather well. I also attended the post-accident NTSB Hearings held in LIT. This was an accident that never should have happened. With the culprit cell NW of the airport and moving NW-SE, they were racing the cell to the airport, and the cell won the race. They had two good alternates, and plenty of fuel, and the easiest thing to do would have been to enter holding NW of LIT (and the cell), and wait about 15 minutes for the cell to completely pass LIT, and then come in behind it. Instead, they wanted to get their day over with, and get-there-itis caused them to ignore multiple clues that the approach wasn't wise.

[@LSMAstudios]

Your flight simulator air crash investigation videos are awesome hop you upload more! :)

[@LSMAstudios]

*hope

[@Dilberto88]

I was on approach to PSP in Thanksgiving, 1997 and the #2 engine of our Holiday-packed, Alaska Air MD8 flight flamed out. I think I was the only passenger to know, as I saw the turbine literally stop spinning, from my rear window seat. Suddenly, the #1 engine went full throttle to compensate missing landing thrust, as I braced for a rough landing. PSP is right in the Santa Ana high pressure current and I can see the plane was yawing like crazy. We slammed down hard and I could feel the fuselage flex and creak loudly. Scariest flight of my life!

[@ernestkovach3305]

Where are We? Should we Land? I do not see the Airport?, do you? WE just went by the runway... I still can't see the airport! I "thought" I already told you to set flaps at 40.(Ah, no, he did not tell them that EVER!) .... These comments in the cockpit are text book examples of incompetence, recklessness, and really poor decision making! It is a wonder more people were not killed in this crash...all due to horrible reckless decision making by the pilots!

[@rogerpattube]

Another important contributing factor was that the approach lights the plane collided with were illegally fixed, not frangible, in the runway safety area. This was how Captain Buschmann was killed. The airport was found liable for this by a federal jury in Little Rock that awarded Captain Buschmann's family $2 million in wrongful-death damages.

[@mlovmo]

"Guaranteed on-time arrival" Yeah, airline guarantees like these would never pressure pilots to take chances, right?

[@tonistark4169]

I remember this! I’m from DFW and remember them saying the pilots saw the thunderstorm on radar and thought they could “jet through” the middle of the storm on both sides but it converged at the last minute. I always fly Southwest out of Love Field to Tulsa every 3 months. Why do I always watch these right before I fly! I can say I’ve been through storms and not once have had a problem. They say it’s still safer to than drive. I’d hate to hear most of those crazy cockpit conversations 😬🤔😳

[@clemalford9768]

I landed at Delhi on a flight from Kolkata. The pollution and fog were so bad the pilot announced he would be landing blind on instruments. When I looked out of the window I couldn't even see the runway!!!

[@irinefreilekhman9]

These videos are great! I have almost seen all of them. good work.

[@richardvilla6194]

I’ll never understand why they didn’t divert to their alternate.

[@보바-f3g]

Well done buddy,love ur vids

[@prismatic_wolf922]

I really love ur videos

[@matthendricks9666]

Guys...this is aviation. The most regulated and restricted profession is the job of an airline pilot. You get these investigations and reports every single time after something went wrong. And those are broadcasted openly and worldwide every single time a crash happens. And every time airlines all over the planet change and improve their procedures. Now imagine how it looks like in other branches where all this is absolutely unknown. Like in Hospitals, Police, Psychiatry. If pilots were allowed to work like medical doctors...there would be 20 crashes a day and every single time it would be the fault of the passengers....never the pilots´ fault.

[@mrmothman5779]

Congrats on 10K! Wat will you do to celebrate????

[@mrmothman5779]

Put a gopro on ur head to show us a day in the life of Alec!

[@AllecJoshuaIbay]

+Miss Derpsalot Thank you :) Wouldn't have done it without you.

[@JSquaredJJYT]

+Allec Joshua Ibay what is your next remake

[@kiwiEverything]

+HaphazardGaming22 Twenty Two same

[@aryawijayaadibrata6370]

good video and congratulation for 10k

[@traeht]

Thank you. I really like to watch these videos.

[@datainmotion]

Love your videos and its nice to see how much they have progressed in production quality, but curious why so many from 8 yrs ago are popping up?

[@christophdollis1955]

I was screaming at them, "Divert!" through most of it, followed by, "Deploy the reverse thrusters and spoilers!" Jesus Christ. It's a wet runway landing. You ALWAYS do that with poor breaking conditions. I know that and I have 0 hours as a pilot, not 12000 and counting. Dummies. RIP, dummies.

[@rogerpattube]

The captain did reverse thrust. However, without the spoilers to create downforce, it caused the plane to spin.

[@PlaneSpotterLCY]

Great recreation, Allec!

[@rainbowsqur4491]

This is so good maybe next you can do the 1999 USA Learjet crash

[@hoodoo2001]

Most people here are missing the point, being all scared of the weather. All the pilots did was forget one thing, how to manage the aircraft on the ground, they forgot ...to arm the automatic spoilers...and then forgot to manually deploy them? They successfully landed the airplane but then forgot to stop it? The weather was just a distraction that made them forget that one critical item that was necessary for wet runways.

[@thewaywardwind548]

I was working the ticket counter/checkin and was reacommodating passengers because there was a violent t-storm over our regional airport and we were gonna be seriously late. I had a customer who had run into the terminal through the heavy rain and was pissed off because we were delayed. I probably took a chance on getting fired, but I told him that if he wanted to fly in that kind of weather, he'd have to get his OWN airplane. Our crews want to go home to their families. I guess it took because he never reported me for being a smart mouth agent.

[@josueosorio5412]

Love your videos allec, i enjoy flying , so sad that in situations like these very little the captains , crew memebrs or passangers can do to survive .

[@theonemodifier]

I guess they had the mindset we are already 2 hours late we must make it there. They had hope calling it a bowling alley. Instead of just a bad storm over LR

[@LyndaWhite-ju1gj]

I remember this one when it happen and I think the FO might have been a little bit to gun Ho for weather conditions and assuring the captain everything was California cool.

[@mandodnam]

Great work Allec, I love these videos. My one suggestion is you should work on the difference between "it's" and "its" in your subtitles. For example at 1:45 in this video you use "it's" incorrectly, instead of "its". It's a little thing but it would help your videos be more professional.

[@calebmelton5989]

MandO Marc it does not matter

[@ollimoore]

It kinda does though, are we just going to throw away the basic rules of the English language? Half the people on social media genuinely don't know the difference between 'your' and 'you're', if no one is ever a 'grammar nazi' about it it'll only get worse. The above comment isn't unpleasant about correcting the mistakes, and it's arguably even more important that videos have decent grammar so I don't see the problem with it.

[@TheIkaraCult]

English is evidently his second (or third or fourth, he seems like a well educated chap) language, it's not like you can write perfect Mandarin or German is it.

[@GarrettWorcester]

'grammar ninja' - sounds a little cooler and more critic-friendly.

[@wilhelmii70]

i have been here since you started

[@wilhelmii70]

also i love your video's and congrats with the 10.000 subs :D

[@doug9066]

I remember this incident which I was visiting Dallas/Ft. Worth from Iowa when this happened which still have the Dallas Morning News with story & pictures on front page. All this could've been prevented by diverting or turning back to DFW needless to say va destroying an aircraft & taking lives, experience pilots taking risks when passengers are trusting those in the cockpit to arrive safely.

[@gt27312]

I've been enjoying your videos and appreciate all the hard work you put into them. Just one suggestion....you really need to learn how to spell. Descent, surveillance, etc. Other than that 4.5 stars!

[@ted.angell7609]

gt27312 He’s not a native speaker. English is a hellacious language for a foreigner to learn well because of its varied roots. I’ve been on the opposite side of the fence as a student of other languages which have consistent Latin roots, and even then it’s not easy.

[@crownvicnl]

congratuations! 10k!! will you do a special video?

[@mautrindade]

Hi Allec, I have a sugestion for you: The Canada Flight 143 the Gimli Glider (1983)

[@calvinbaII]

THIS!!

[@shinesis169]

Please fam

[@oldirtymick]

Yeah bruv

[@robertgantry2118]

It's on youtube, maybe on another channel, but it's there. Try _The Flight Channel._

[@lazurm]

It's been done.

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

Ugh i haven’t got to the critical moment but they sound so unsure, they should have redirected to another airport. Constantly changing weather, ugh 🙈😐. Gut wrenching, it feels so wrong. Edit: RIP 😔 and thankfully a number survived I was on a flight years ago where the pilots amazingly landed the plane at a Swedish airport at night, in a severe all white out blizzard, you couldn’t see shit. My dad picked me up and said he never remembered such a bad blizzard in his life. I had so much crap going on in my private life, I sure hope I gave huge thanks to the crew for landing us safely. Driving home was scary as hell, there was no difference between the air and ground, you couldn’t see land. Thinking back I should have stayed at the airport, though no hotels there or anything. We got home ok, eventually, thankfully

[@muffs55mercury61]

I live in Arkansas and severe thunderstorms in the spring are a way of life. They should have diverted to Memphis which is only 140 miles away and was not under storm watch at the time. I'd much rather take a bus or rent a car & driven back the 140 miles than be on that risky landing. A lot of errors here. It seems on the entire approach the captain has little or no idea whats going on and he's relying almost entirely on his first officer (at 8:22 he even admits that he has no clue where they are) Little Rock not having better radar (by 1999, that's inexcusable!) didn't help matters.

[@TawanMomo]

awesome video and contrasts about 10k subs

[@ajp4860]

Alec Nice work. 👍

[@marcorivignanivaccari1664]

congratuations for 10K

[@jtkeys7618]

Liked $ subbed. Your content is spot on. Hooked.!! Keep up the great work

[@ericpigg2689]

I remember laying in bed at my parents house just outside of Little Rock on this night while a thunderstorm raged on. In the midst of the thunder and lightning, I heard the sound of jet engines on final approach. It scared me at first because I had heard tornadoes sometimes sounded like jets. As soon as I realized it was jet, I remember thinking "thank God I am not on that plane". I listened to KARN out of Little Rock overnight as they played Art Bell at that time. Within 30 minutes of hearing that plane come over, they broke in and said there had been a crash at Adams Field (now the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport).

[@Billhatestheinternet]

I am not a pilot or an ATC. My father was an ATC, and I grew up around aviation. I know enough to know that this kind of weather was by default IFR conditions. By the time this idiot was on final (which he should have never attempted), not being able to see the runway, he should have TOGA/Bolter and diverted to the alternate field (Nashville). This was senseless.

[@nicholasfox966]

Your channel is outstanding. Thank you for all the excellent videos! If I may, there is an English error that I've noticed in many of the videos that I'd like to bring to your attention for any future videos that you make. You use IT'S when you mean to say ITS. IT'S, with an apostrophe, is a shortening of IT IS, and it only means that. ITS, without an apostrophe, is a possessive adjective, and it is only a possessive adjective. For example: "It's (it is) a really beautiful day outside." "The plane lost its left engine." IT'S should never been used for a possessive. "The plane lost it's left engine" is incorrect; you should use ITS in this case.