NTSB Marks 40th Anniversary of Flight 90 Accident

Monday, January 17, 2022 at 05:01 PM ET

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Rescue and Recovery operations by USACE Baltimore District and the 30th Engineer Battalion at the site of the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 in the Potomac River at Washington, D.C., January 1982. Baltimore's debris boat BD-4 is in the foreground. [Courtesy: US Army Corps of Engineers]

Key Takeaways:

Air Florida Flight 90 crashed in 1982 due to critical flight crew errors, including taking off with ice and snow contamination on the wings, failure to use the engine anti-ice system, and not rejecting the takeoff despite anomalous engine power readings in snowy conditions.
The NTSB investigation highlighted crew misjudgments such as inadequate de-icing procedures, attempts to melt ice using another aircraft's exhaust, and ignoring visible contamination, which collectively led to insufficient thrust and lift for a safe departure.
This tragic accident, along with others, significantly advanced aviation safety protocols concerning airframe icing, resulting in improved de-icing procedures, revised FAA certification standards for flying in icing conditions, and enhanced crew training, which have dramatically reduced icing-related accidents.

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The only good thing that comes out of an aviation accident is that sometimes we learn from it and use this knowledge to prevent future accidents. This message was driven home by an accident involving Air Florida Flight 90.

On January 13, 1982, the aircraft took off from Washington National Airport (KDCA) in a snowstorm and failed to climb. The airline collided with the 14th Street Bridge and plunged into the Potomac River. Only four of the 79 persons aboard the jet survived. Four people on the bridge were killed and four more injured.