Pilot error blamed in plane crash that killed 49
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Official cites 'briar patch of human behavior'

By Brandon Ortiz, Janet Patton and Michelle Ku

On July 22, 2007, after putting in 13,000 man hours of investigation over 11 months and reviewing more than 1,000 pages of evidence, federal investigators concluded that Comair Flight 5191 crashed because of mistakes made by the pilots.

Pilot error blamed in plane crash that killed 49 - 07/30/07 02:11:26 PM
Air controllers say tower understaffed now - 07/30/07 12:27:23 PM
Conclusions of the NTSB report - 07/30/07 12:27:24 PM
Comair 5191's fatal trip down the wrong runway - 07/30/07 12:27:24 PM
NTSB report praised with some exceptions - 07/30/07 12:27:24 PM
Recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration - 07/30/07 12:27:24 PM
Hersman recalls how community handled tragedy with dignity - 07/30/07 12:27:24 PM
For loved ones, 'it is profoundly sad' - 07/30/07 12:27:23 PM
Change, if any, likely to be slow, experts say - 07/30/07 12:27:23 PM
Aeronautics expert, attorney agree with board's conclusion - 07/30/07 12:27:23 PM
Loved ones have 'credible voice' in making changes - 07/30/07 12:27:24 PM

DOCUMENTS FROM THE NTSB INVESTIGATION (PDFs)

PHOTOS AND VIDEO

AUDIO

NTSB briefings, emergency workers' radio traffic

In their final minutes, pilots discussed jobs, children and dogs

On Jan. 17, 2007, the National Transportation Safety Board opened its files on the investigation of the crash of Comair Flight 5191. The reports about the Aug. 27 crash at Blue Grass Airport describe haunting moments from the hours and seconds before the pilots directed the plane onto the wrong runway and crashed into a field. It was the worst aviation disaster in the United States since 2001,

The voice recorder: 5191's final moments
Following are excerpts from the final minutes of Comair Flight 5191's cockpit voice recorder. The voices are those of First Officer James Polehinke, Capt. Jeffrey Clay and the air traffic controller in the tower. For a more complete transcript of the voice recorder, go to Kentucky.com.
Witness ran to stop plane

By Michelle Ku
An American Eagle employee ran toward the runway when he realized Comair Flight 5191 was taking off from Runway 26, Blue Grass Airport's general aviation runway, according to an interview conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Manager wanted more tower staffing

By Brandon Ortiz
Eight months before Comair Flight 5191 crashed with only one air traffic controller monitoring Blue Grass Airport -- a violation of Federal Aviation Administration policies -- the tower's manager warned his superiors that he did not have enough staff, according to documents released by federal investigators.
Survivor was found hanging upside down

By Jennifer Hewlett
Responders to the crash of Comair Flight 5191 found an apparently unconscious, badly bleeding James Polehinke hanging virtually upside down by his lap belt from the plane's cockpit area when they arrived at the wreckage on Aug. 27.
Key players disagree over who's to blame

By Janet Patton
New documents released yesterday show disagreement among Blue Grass Airport, Comair, and unions representing pilots and air traffic controllers over who bears blame for the crash of Comair Flight 5191.
Unions claim lack of rest played a role

By Sarah Vos
Fatigue played an important role in the crash of Comair Flight 5191, according to unions for pilots and air traffic controllers.

Initial stories, recent news | Stories: Sept. 2-21, 2006 | Stories: Sept. 22, 2006-2007 | Tribute to victims

Official cites 'briar patch of human behavior'

By Brandon Ortiz, Janet Patton and Michelle Ku

By Michelle Ku

By Brandon Ortiz

By Jennifer Hewlett

By Janet Patton

By Sarah Vos