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Why removing crashed aircraft takes time

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Why removing crashed aircraft takes time
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American Eagle CRJ700 | Simple Flying

When an aircraft goes down, a common question arises: Why does it take so long to remove an aircraft after a crash? Following a major multi-car accident on an American interstate, law enforcement and investigators can respond, document, and reopen the affected route in a matter of hours. Commercial aviation disasters are different.

The context of an aircraft incident or crash can be complex and diverse, ranging from an inflight breakup to an aborted takeoff or mid-air collision. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the lead investigative agency for aircraft accidents. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Department of Transportation (DOT) Act that created the NTSB, which became independent of the DOT in 1974 to ensure "objectivity in its investigations and recommendations. "

The NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety (OAS) investigates about 2,000 aviation accidents and incidents annually. The highly sequenced investigative process blends diligence, scientific rigor, organizational management, public relations, and compassion.

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Several key factors contribute to the methodical process of responding to and investigating an airline accident or crash:

A disorienting and complex setting

The first priority is rescue and recovery efforts for accident victims at the crash site by local first responders. Aircraft crashes often present disorienting conditions during initial hours.

For instance, the American Eagle CRJ700 collision with a Sikorsky UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 near Washington Reagan Airport resulted in a confined wreckage field in the Potomac River. Despite recovering the plane’s black boxes within one day, it took six days to recover all bodies from the American Eagle CRJ700 wreckage .

Investigation and science

Maintaining fidelity of the accident scene for subsequent investigation is crucially important. Securing all critical physical evidence at a crash site helps establish what events preceded the incident.

In May 1979,American Airlines Flight191 crashed on takeoff from O'Hare Airport in Chicago after its left engine detached from wing due to maintenance procedures leading to fatigue cracking.

The clock is ticking

There are two competing needs—diligence in establishing facts concerning cause(s) while providing timely answers.

"There should be no pressure," states Appendix MTI Manual,"to release all on-scene wreckage."

"And every time you try," said Jim Slade ABC-TV reporter,"to decide...you find out...you were wrong," referring Pan Am Disaster Dec'88

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Organizations Included in this History
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