The Fatal Crash Of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 | Air Crash Investigation | National Geographic UK

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On January 31st, 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 suddenly nosedived into the Pacific Ocean and the crash had deadly implications. Investigators later uncovered a critical maintenance issue with the aircraft, which meant that even after the flight crew deployed the speed brakes and control surfaces on the wings, they still could not stop the tragic crash.

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48 Comments

  1. So guys im not sure about what im about to say is true but it does connect with a plane crash im gonna explain and how it happened. So here:
    Alaska airlines flight 261 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 That crashed in the Pacific Ocean in January 31 2000. 2.7 Miles north of Anacapa Island California. All On board were killed two pilots (of course) Three flight attendants and 83 passengers. It took off at Puerto Vallarta At 2:30 PM PST. It was supposed To Land at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Washington United States. It had a stopover Which I don’t know if they landed at or not. So now I’m talking about the plane here. Its serial number was: 53077. Registered as: N963AS. Now the crew. Captain Ted Thompson With first officer William “Bill” Tansky. Thompson Was in the U.S Air Force. Tansky in the U.S navy. The five crew members and 47 passengers on board were bound to Seattle. 30 Traveling to San Francisco. Three were bound for Eugene Oregon. And three more were headed for Fairbanks Alaska. One were Mexican. One British. And all others being U.S citizens. The flight:
    It climbed to its cruising altitude Of flight level 310 (31,000 feet or 9,400m) sometime before 15:49 (23:49 UTC) The flight crew Contacted the airlines dispatch and maintenance-control facilities in SeaTac, Washington, on a company radio frequency shared with operations an maintenance facilities At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to discuss a jammed horizontal stabilizer and a possible diversion to make slight adjustments to the flight control surfaces to keep the plane stable in flight. At there cruising altitude and speed, the position of the jammed stabilizer required the pilots to pull on there yokes with about 10 lbf (44 N) Of force to keep level. Neither the flight crew nor company maintenance could determine the cause of the jam. Repeated attempts to overcome the jam with the primary and alternate trim system were unsuccessful. At 16:09 (00:09 UTC) the flight crew successfully used the primary trim system to unjam the the stuck horizontal stabilizer but when being freed, It quickly moved to an extreme “nose down” position forcing the aircraft into an almost vertical nose dive. The plane dropped from about 31,500 to between 23,000 and 24,000 in around 80 seconds Both pilots struggled to regain control of the aircraft, and only by pulling with the 130 to 140 lb on the controls did the flight crew stop the 6,000 ft/min decent of the aircraft and stabilize it at 24,400 ft Alaska 261 informed the ATC (air traffic control) their control problems. So now I’m going to listen to the Cvr and tell you. ASA261 (Alaska 261) Center, Alaska 261, we are in a..uh.. in a dive here.LAX_CTR: Alaska 261, Say again? ASA261: Vertical pitch. LAX_CTR: Alaska 261, Say again sir? ASA261: Yeah, we’re at uh 26,000, we are in a vertical dive,not a dive yet..but, uh, we’ve lost vertical control of our airplane, LAX_CTR: Alaska 261, Roger, ASA261: We’re at twenty three seven request uh… ASA261: Yeah, we’ve got it back under control there, oh yeah.. LAX_CTR: Alaska 261, say the altitude you would like to uh… remain at. LAX_CTR: 10F cleared direct (inaudible) N10F: (inaudible) 10F. LAX_CTR: Alaska 552 to center, descend and maintain FL240. ASA552: descend and maintain FL240, Alaska 552. LAX_CTR Alaska 261, say your condition? ASA261: 261 were at 24,000 ft, kinda stabilized… (so guys ima skip to the last words cvr) As google Gemini says. Here they are: gotta get it over again…at least upside down we’re flying. There’s the story I can say rest in peace “Alaska Airlines 261”

  2. OK, I’ve seen this recreation with the same narrator only different actors lol
    And I thought it was the very same show. Mayday air crash investigations?
    I’d like to see this version if anybody knows where it is here on YouTube can you post it?

  3. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of airplane pitch control resulting from the in-flight failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim system jackscrew assembly's Acme nut threads

  4. One thing that shook me the most was when I saw the photo of the jackscrew. First I thought what’s with all the steel wires wrapped around the screw?
    As it turned out it wasn’t the steel wires, it was threading that’s been ripped apart from the nut.

  5. A essay abt Alaska Airlines 261 Title: Alaska Airlines 261: A Historical Reconstruction and Analysis Introduction: Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was a tragic event that occurred on January 31, 2000, and resulted in the loss of all 88 individuals on board. The accident at Alaska Airlines 261 not only revealed critical flaws in the maintenance and safety practices of the airline but also highlighted the need for continuous improvement in the aviation industry as a whole. This essay aims to meticulously examine the historical context, key figures, the impact of Alaska Airlines 261, influential individuals in the field, and various perspectives related to the incident. Furthermore, it will delve into both positive and negative aspects, address potential future developments, and provide a well-reasoned analysis. Part 1: Historical Context (400–500 words)The historical context surrounding Alaska Airlines 261 provides valuable insights into the events leading up to the accident, shedding light on the aviation industry's strengths and weaknesses at the time. As an integral part of this narrative, several key factors emerge:1. The McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft: Alaska Airlines 261 was operated using a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft—an older model that had previously experienced issues with its horizontal stabilizer. This component's history of maintenance and potential issues would become a focal point during the investigation.2. Maintenance and safety practices: The maintenance and safety practices of Alaska Airlines played a significant role in the events leading to Flight 261. The investigation following the accident revealed numerous instances of inadequate maintenance and repairs on the aircraft, which compromised its integrity and ultimately led to the accident.3. Aviation regulations and oversight: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for overseeing and enforcing safety regulations within the aviation industry. The accident raised questions regarding the effectiveness of FAA oversight, calls for more robust regulation, and improvements in maintenance protocols. Part 2: Key Figures and Impact of Alaska Airlines 261 (400-500 words)To understand the depth and magnitude of the accident, it is crucial to examine the key figures involved and the impact it had on various stakeholders.1. Key figures:a) Captain Ted Thompson and First Officer William Tansky were the pilots at the controls of Flight 261. Their actions, decision-making, and training came under scrutiny during the investigation.b) Alaska Airlines management, including the CEO, played a significant role in the airline's maintenance and safety practices, adding to the responsibility for the accident.2. Impact: The crash of Alaska Airlines 261 had lasting effects on various stakeholders, including the families of the victims, aviation professionals, and the general public. It served as a wake-up call for the aviation industry, highlighting the dire consequences of lax maintenance and inadequate oversight. The incident prompted changes in airline policies, pilot training, and maintenance procedures aimed at improving the safety culture within the industry. Part 3: Influential Individuals and Perspectives (400-500 words)Several influential individuals have significantly contributed to the field of aviation safety and the aftermath of Alaska Airlines 261. It is essential to analyze their roles and examine the various perspectives associated with the incident.1. John Goglia: As a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member, John Goglia played a crucial role in investigating and highlighting systemic issues within Alaska Airlines, leading to significant changes in maintenance and safety practices.2. The victims' families: The families of those on board Flight 261 became advocates for improved aviation safety. Their persistent efforts led to changes in legislation and regulations, ensuring that the accident's lessons were learned and applied.3. The aviation industry: The accident prompted the aviation industry to revise its safety practices and protocols. Prominent stakeholders, including airlines, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies, collaborated to address systemic issues, leading to new regulations, improved training, and enhanced safety measures. And better instructions on how to deal with failures. Part 4: Positive and Negative Aspects and Future Developments (200–300 words)The analysis of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 would be incomplete without considering both positive and negative aspects, as well as potential future developments.1. Positive aspects: The accident became a catalyst for significant improvements in aviation safety. It prompted increased oversight, consolidated industry-wide efforts to address the root causes of accidents, and led to safer practices within airlines.2. Negative aspects: The accident exposed critical flaws in Alaska Airlines' maintenance and safety practices, including the inadequate training of pilots and the lack of proper communication channels between various stakeholders. Additionally, the incident raised questions about the effectiveness of FAA oversight.3. Future developments :In the aftermath of Alaska Airlines 261, the aviation industry implemented various measures to prevent similar accidents. Future developments may focus on leveraging technological advancements, implementing predictive maintenance programs, and strengthening industry-wide safety standards. The industry will likely continue to prioritize proactive measures to ensure passenger safety while navigating new challenges like emerging technologies and increasing air traffic. Conclusion: The tragic incident at Alaska Airlines 261 was a watershed moment for aviation safety. Identifying the historical context, exploring key figures, understanding the impact, assessing influential individuals, and examining multiple perspectives provide a comprehensive understanding of the accident. While the accident revealed several drawbacks, it also became a catalyst for positive change in the aviation industry, resulting in enhanced safety practices and improved regulations. By relentlessly striving for continuous improvement, the industry can ensure the lessons learned from Alaska Airlines 261 remain at the forefront of aviation safety.

  6. No matter what it is. YOU CAN'T CUT CORNERS IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY ! When you do, you PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK ! May the souls of all of those innocent people rest in peace.

  7. In hindsight, this was a tragedy that could have been avoided. As soon as the flight crew realized there was a mechanical problem with the horizontal stabilizer, they should have immediately declared an emergency and landed. At that point, they still had adequate control of the aircraft to land successfully. Instead, they performed troubleshooting procedures causing catastrophic failure of the horizontal stabilizer resulting in an uncontrollable aircraft.

  8. Why aren't there parachutes installed on the back of planes or yet on the top side of the aircraft …to prevent nosedives of this magnitude? Why isn't there something that's inflatable that surrounds the aircraft upon a mayday to cushion the blow? Why is it after all these years and so many crashes nothing has changed and that parameter but we have electric vehicles and we're now having rockets take off and land the same way they take off but we can't do anything to prevent horrific airline crashes…

  9. Alaska airlines recieved a slap on the wrist..the us attormey in charge didnt file charges despite having proof the airline fallsified documents and attempted to destroy the whistleblowers reputation .He refused to say why. The whistleblower libel recieved a 500k defamation settlement on condition he left the company. While the airline was under investigation they put him on paid leave.
    Somewhere out there is a US attorney woth a fat bank account

  10. Alaska Airlines did everything possible to avoid blame for the terrible tragedy of flight 261, and they were willing to destroy a man's career-John Liotine, in order to do it. He was labeled incompetent, and the airline claimed he blew the whistle on them only because he was angry for being passed over for a promotion he felt he deserved. Alaska A was fortunate to escape federal charges for their part in the accident, but they ended up settling for $500,000 to Liotine for his libel lawsuit against them, and part of the agreement stated he had to leave the company before the end of the month. They also paid millions more to the survivor's family members. The total money AA was forced to payout was close to $300 million.

    88 lives lost, all that heartache, and it could have been avoided if proper maintenance had been scheduled on the horizontal stabilizer trim systems jackscrew assembly. Not greasing them allowed the threads to wear out prematurely, and once the stabilizer snapped, the pilots had no way to control the pitch of their airplane, thus the deadly dive into the Pacific Ocean. Investigators who examined the jackscrew assembly said that almost 90% of it had previously worn away. I've also read reports that the grease used on the jackscrew thread may have had elements in it that helped exacerbate the wear on the threads. This horrific accident was caused by the airline's attempt to add to the company's profits by cutting maintenance costs to the bone. Sadly, I believe that this is not an anomaly, that all airlines risk their passenger's safety by cutting their maintenance costs in order to increase their year-end bottom line.

    To all those who lost their lives in Alaska Airline flight 261-RIP my brothers and sisters.

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