Airplane crash in Toronto (OLD thread bumped)

[icarus]

Originally posted by the_only_turek_fan@Aug 2 2005, 09:37 PM

If it were to be struck by lightning I dont know if it would skid. Wouldnt it just totally blow up.

There have been two eyewitnesses on CTV who saw it get hit by lightning.

[jonesy]

Originally posted by MarchHare+Aug 2 2005, 09:30 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MarchHare @ Aug 2 2005, 09:30 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

That's what some airport guy from Pearson that CTV had on the air said.

I highly, highly doubt a lightning strike could cause a powerloss.

But what do I know...I'm only a pilot. [/b][/quote]
Do pilots generally know a lot about electrical charges and stuff?

Some guys drive cars a lot and don't know shinguard about how they work.

[ken0042]

If the airplane was in contact with the ground when it was hit, and the rubber tires were wet, the lightning may not have acted in the manor that it was supposed to.

Add to that the fact that Airbuses are "fly by wire"; ie no Hydrolics to allow the pilot to manually hit the brakes...............

I hope everybody is OK.

[MarchHare]

Who are you arguing with, hoepfully not icarus as he is just repeating what he heard on tv. You have me convinced.

Not arguing with anyone...just saying that the guy on tv doesn't know what he's talking about and not to put any faith into what he said.

If lightning was a contributing factor to the crash, it's likely because it blinded the pilots as they were trying to land. It's extremely unlikely that lightning caused any damage to the aircraft.

[icarus]

Passenger being interviewed on CTV.

[icarus]

Originally posted by MarchHare@Aug 2 2005, 09:42 PM
If lightning was a contributing factor to the crash, it's likely because it blinded the pilots as they were trying to land. It's extremely unlikely that lightning caused any damage to the aircraft.

Well if the plane had already landed when the pilot was blinded, what difference would it have made?

[MarchHare]

Do pilots generally know a lot about electrical charges and stuff?

Not specifically, but in addition to just learning how to fly, we also have extensive ground school classes teaching how every part of the aircraft works (airframe, control surfaces, engine, etc.) as well as learning lots about meteorology. Lightning strikes were one thing that we were taught about...and we were basicly told not to worry about them. You should avoid thunderstorms at all costs, but if you are caught in one, the biggest threats come from severe turbulence and hail, not lightning. Modern aircraft (like the A340) are engineered so that lightning does little to no damage to them.

[MarchHare]

Well if the plane had already landed when the pilot was blinded, what difference would it have made?

After touchdown, they still have to activate the brakes and thrust-reversers while at the same time keeping the plane centred on the runway (which is a lot harder than it looks, especially if you have a cross-wind).

[jonesy]

i understand that part of your arguement, but how much of that is valid if the plane is on the ground?

Wet conditions could change the dielectric properties significantly, so if you get a strike and all the energy flows right through the aircraft 'ground' to earth ground, you may get significant current flowing. This might give some instruments a real shock to their systems.

Not sure inflight is comparable to an on the ground strike.

[icarus]

Based on passenger accounts now, sounds like it was hit while it was just above the runway, and dropped onto the runway, possibly busting the tires.

[MarchHare]

Just heard the BBC report only 14 injuries (no word on how serious) and no confirmed fatalities yet. Let's hope it stays that way.

[Shawnski]

Originally posted by MarchHare@Aug 2 2005, 04:05 PM
Just heard the BBC report only 14 injuries (no word on how serious) and no confirmed fatalities yet. Let's hope it stays that way.

The first CBC link in this thread is updated to indicate:

All the passengers aboard a jet that skidded off a runway and burst into flames at Pearson International Airport Tuesday survived the ordeal, according to fire officials on the scene.

There were 14 minor injuries, however.

Good news.

[Cube Inmate]

Originally posted by icarus+Aug 2 2005, 03:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (icarus @ Aug 2 2005, 03:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-the_only_turek_fan@Aug 2 2005, 09:37 PM

If it were to be struck by lightning I dont know if it would skid. Wouldnt it just totally blow up.

There have been two eyewitnesses on CTV who saw it get hit by lightning. [/b][/quote]
There were eyewitnesses on 9/11 who saw the pentagon being hit with a missile...

Shocked eyewitnesses are not the most reliable source of info in the face of a disaster.

[Calgary Flames]

Wasn't there a huge passenger plane that crashed into lake Ontario just off of downtown Toronto a few years back?

[icarus]

Originally posted by Cube Inmate@Aug 2 2005, 10:10 PM
There were eyewitnesses on 9/11 who saw the pentagon being hit with a missile...

Shocked eyewitnesses are not the most reliable source of info in the face of a disaster.

I'm sure people have seen more lightning in their lives than missile strikes.

[habernac]

fantastic news that all survived. I can't imagine the panic there must have been when they hit the ground. Kudos to everyone involved for getting the passengers out safely.

[Flashpoint]

Originally posted by icarus+Aug 2 2005, 05:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (icarus @ Aug 2 2005, 05:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cube Inmate@Aug 2 2005, 10:10 PM
There were eyewitnesses on 9/11 who saw the pentagon being hit with a missile...

Shocked eyewitnesses are not the most reliable source of info in the face of a disaster.

I'm sure people have seen more lightning in their lives than missile strikes. [/b][/quote]
Depends if you live in Iraq or not.

[Resolute 14]

Absolutely unbelievable that there were only 14 minor injuries out of 300 people after a crash like that.

Just amazing.

[Cube Inmate]

Originally posted by icarus+Aug 2 2005, 04:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (icarus @ Aug 2 2005, 04:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cube Inmate@Aug 2 2005, 10:10 PM
There were eyewitnesses on 9/11 who saw the pentagon being hit with a missile...

Shocked eyewitnesses are not the most reliable source of info in the face of a disaster.

I'm sure people have seen more lightning in their lives than missile strikes. [/b][/quote]
I'm not questioning their ability to identify lightning as such...I'm questioning their ability to definitively say that lightning hit the plane.

It might have hit the plane, or it might have hit the airport control tower 2 km away which just happened to be in a visual line with the plane.

[Mango]

Originally posted by Snakeeye@Aug 2 2005, 03:35 PM
Absolutely unbelievable that there were only 14 minor injuries out of 300 people after a crash like that.

Just amazing.

Great news. How could you not think the worst when seeing the images of the fire and smoke?