Pilots Noted Runway Was Not Lighted Seconds Before Crash

Transcripts released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board indicate the pilots of Comair Flight 5191 knew something was unusual about their early-morning takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY last August 27.

According to cockpit voice recordings, 17 seconds before impact copilot James Polehinke noted it was "weird" the runway they were on had no lights. The captain, Jeffrey Clay, responded "Yeah."

As Aero-News reported, the Comair RJ attempted takeoff from Runway 26 at Blue Grass, instead of Runway 22 as instructed by the tower. At 3,500 feet, runway 26 is half the length of 22... and was too short for the fully-loaded regional jet. Runway 26 is used only by smaller planes at Blue Grass, and is not approved for nighttime operations.

In an eerie foreshadowing, the transcript shows Polehinke asked Clay to verify the correct runway minutes before 5191 started its takeoff roll, as part of preflight checks.

"Right seat flex takeoff procedures off of um ... he said what runway? One of 'em. Two four," Polehinke notes.

"It's two two," Clay responds.

USA Today also notes the transcripts show Clay and Polehinke failed to maintain a sterile cockpit during the taxi for takeoff, discussing topics including their work conditions and families.

"Both kids were sick though, they, well they all got colds," Clay tells Polehinke while he taxied the aircraft for takeoff. "It was an interesting dinner last night."

Clay lined the CRJ up on runway 22, and then turned the controls over to Polehinke, who was the flying pilot.

According to the transcript, the last understandable words came from Clay just one second before the crash, when he called out V-1 rotation speed, followed by a single word: "whoa."

The subsequent crash killed 49 of the 50 people onboard the aircraft; Polehinke, the sole survivor, suffered brain damage and had his left leg amputated following injuries sustained in the accident.

Comair spokeswoman Kate Marx said the CVR transcript does not by itself indict the plane's pilots in the crash, and notes the NTSB has not issued its analysis of the accident.

"The transcript does make it clear the crew did not follow Comair's sterile cockpit policy," said airline spokeswoman Kate Marx. "Our policy does comply with FAA regulations... [W]hile pilots did not follow the sterile cockpit policy, it is premature to make conclusions regarding the role it may have played in the accident."

Other documents released by the NTSB Wednesday show the tower controller on duty at the time of the accident initially told investigators he watched the plane taxi to the correct runway... but later amended his statement to say he had not watched the plane taxi to runway 26.

"After the review of my original personnel statement, I did not watch Com191 take Ry. (Runway) 22," wrote controller Christopher Damron. "I saw Com191's position on Twy (Taxiway) A, heading for Rwy 22. I then cleared Com191 for takeoff. I saw Com191's lights turning toward Rwy 22. I turned around to do the traffic count, heard a crash and saw a fireball west of the airport."

The documents do not state what prompted Damron to change his statement.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.comair.com