On this day August 2 1985, Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashed while attempting to land at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport during a severe thunderstorm, resulting in the tragic loss of 137 lives. The Lockheed L 1011 TriStar encountered a powerful weather phenomenon known as a microburst, which caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly just before landing.
The plane struck a car on a nearby highway, hit two water tanks, and finally broke apart on impact. Despite the efforts of the crew, the intense downdraft from the storm overwhelmed the aircraft's ability to maintain flight. The crash claimed the lives of passengers, crew members, and a motorist on the ground, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in United States history at the time.
The investigation that followed led to major changes in aviation safety. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that wind shear and inadequate detection systems were primary factors. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration accelerated the development and deployment of advanced weather radar and wind shear detection systems at airports nationwide.
80s insight: The crash of Flight 191 became a turning point in how airports and airlines approached weather-related hazards, leading to life saving improvements in aviation safety.
The plane struck a car on a nearby highway, hit two water tanks, and finally broke apart on impact. Despite the efforts of the crew, the intense downdraft from the storm overwhelmed the aircraft's ability to maintain flight. The crash claimed the lives of passengers, crew members, and a motorist on the ground, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in United States history at the time.
The investigation that followed led to major changes in aviation safety. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that wind shear and inadequate detection systems were primary factors. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration accelerated the development and deployment of advanced weather radar and wind shear detection systems at airports nationwide.
80s insight: The crash of Flight 191 became a turning point in how airports and airlines approached weather-related hazards, leading to life saving improvements in aviation safety.
