The pilots actually commented that the runway lights were off as they were taking off. Wouldn't that be a giant, flashing, punch-in-the-face, red flag for a pilot? I'm sure the ATCs should have noticed, but come on.


http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/29/plane.crash/index.html

 

well the article said that the lights on that runway aren't ever on, but should only be used for daytime takeoffs, landings. apparently for that plane with its load, the runway was only 39 feet short... maybe he thought he could do it and brag to his buddies

 

yeah, i live in louisville. they only have 2 runways at that airport. one that is for commercial flights that have the lights that work and enough length for the planes to take off and the other one that the lights havent worked in a few yrs. none of this was unknown. its really sad.

 

and an airport won't change it's lightbulbs why?

 

They went on a runway that was too short. Ran out of road.

 

I was talking to a civilian pilot yesterday and he said there are two choices in a situation similar to this. Once it was realized that the runway was too short the pilot has two options. Abort the takeoff and crash into whatever is ahead or to attempt a takeoff. I guess he took the latter choice seeing he didn't know what was ahead of him.