355 Envoy 3936 Wrong Runway Landing at O’Hare with Rob Mark & HondaJet Crash in Arizona
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Deep Dive
What happened to Envoy Flight 3936 at Chicago O'Hare?
Envoy Flight 3936, an Embraer 170, was cleared to land on Runway 10 Center but mistakenly landed on Runway 10 Left on September 25th. No one was injured. The incident resulted from a series of small errors, including multiple runway changes during the flight, the crew's inability to tune the ILS for Runway 10 Center, a miscommunication regarding heading, and the acceptance of instructions for a fix they couldn't identify. Both the flight crew and air traffic control failed to communicate crucial information about the misalignment and the ILS issue, contributing to the near miss.
Why did the Envoy Flight 3936 crew land on the wrong runway?
The crew experienced several changes in assigned runways throughout the flight, initially expecting 27R, then 9 Left, then 10 Right, before finally being assigned 10 Center. They couldn't get the ILS for 10 Center to work but didn't inform ATC. During communication, there was confusion over the heading to intercept the localizer, and they acknowledged the final approach fix for the ILS they couldn't tune. While visually landing, they mistakenly aligned with and landed on 10 Left. The good VFR weather and daylight conditions likely prevented a more serious incident.
Why did ATC allow Envoy Flight 3936 to land on the wrong runway?
While the controllers noticed the misalignment, they didn't inform the flight crew, opting instead to coordinate with the 10 Left controller to ensure no traffic conflicts. This decision contradicted guidelines in the air traffic control handbook, which mandates informing pilots of wrong surface alignments. A contributing factor may have been the busy environment at O'Hare, but the incident prompted a software update to alert controllers of such misalignments in the future.
What safety measures were implemented after the Envoy 3936 incident?
Following the incident, the FAA implemented a software update at O'Hare's tower and approach control. This software alerts controllers when an aircraft is aligned with the wrong runway by displaying the aircraft's assigned runway and emitting an alert if it deviates. This aims to prevent similar incidents in the future by providing controllers with a clear warning and prompting communication with the flight crew.
What were the contributing factors to the HondaJet crash in Mesa, Arizona?
While the exact cause is still under investigation, several potential factors are being considered. These include failure to remove gust or control locks, improper flap settings, a medical event affecting the pilot, or a mechanical failure during takeoff. The aircraft aborted takeoff at a speed exceeding V1, suggesting an issue arose after the decision speed. The investigation is ongoing, and more information will be needed to determine the definitive cause.
Why is system knowledge important for pilots?
System knowledge is crucial for pilots as it enables them to differentiate between minor system failures and serious emergencies. A deep understanding of how aircraft systems function allows pilots to accurately assess the impact of malfunctions, make informed decisions about the continuation or diversion of a flight, and avoid unnecessary panic in non-critical situations, as exemplified by the Envoy 3936 and Air France A330 incidents.
What lessons can pilots learn from the Air France A330 crash?
The Air France A330 crash highlights the importance of remaining calm and analyzing a situation before reacting. The crew's misinterpretation of faulty airspeed indications, compounded by a lack of cross-checking other cues like engine noise, led to a stall and subsequent crash. This tragedy emphasizes the need for thorough training in unusual attitudes and the vital practice of winding the clock – taking a moment to assess before taking action – during emergencies.
- HondaJet reached 133 knots before aborted takeoff
- Potential causes: gust lock, flap settings, brake, pilot error
- Aircraft exceeded rotation speed (Vr) but did not rotate
- Discussion of V1 (decision speed) and V2 (takeoff safety speed)
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