On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River just after takeoff

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I walked over to the crash site from central Alexandria that night. Ideas like that used to make sense to me.

Air Florida Flight 90

Coordinates: 38°52'35"N 77°02'33"W


A Boeing 737-222 operated by Air Florida, similar to the one involved

Accident
Date: January 13, 1982
Summary: Stalled and crashed shortly after take off due to lack of de-icing and pilot error
Site: Potomac River, Washington, D.C.
8°52'35"N 77°02'33"W
Total fatalities: 78
Total injuries: 9
Aircraft
Occupants: 79
Passengers: 74
Crew: 5
Fatalities: 74
Injuries: 5 (initially 6)
Survivors: 5 (initially 6)
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities: 4
Ground injuries: 4

Air Florida Flight 90 was a scheduled U.S. domestic passenger flight operated by Air Florida from Washington National Airport (now Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, with an intermediate stopover at Tampa International Airport. On January 13, 1982, the Boeing 737-222 registered as N62AF crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River just after take off from Washington National Airport.

Striking the bridge, which carries Interstate 395 between Washington, DC, and Arlington County, Virginia, it hit seven occupied vehicles and destroyed 97 feet (30 m) of guard rail  before plunging through the ice into the Potomac River. The aircraft was carrying 74 passengers and five crew members. Only four passengers and one crew member (a flight attendant) were rescued from the crash and survived. Another passenger, Arland D. Williams, Jr., assisted in the rescue of the survivors, but drowned before he could be rescued. Four motorists on the bridge were killed. The survivors were rescued from the icy river by civilians and professionals. President Ronald Reagan commended these acts during his State of the Union speech 13 days later.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the cause of the accident was pilot error. The pilots failed to switch on the engines' internal ice protection systems, used reverse thrust in a snowstorm prior to takeoff, tried to use the jet exhaust of a plane in front of them to melt their ice, and failed to abandon the takeoff even after detecting a power problem while taxiing and having ice and snow build up on the wings. On March 5, 1982 the Washington Post described possible de-icing solution and mixture problems.

{snip}

From appalachiablue, this from 2023. It has lots of video links and pictures.

Fri Jan 13, 2023: Horror & Heroism, Air Florida Plane Crash, Wash. DC, Jan. 13, 1982- 41 Yrs Ago: Graphic Images, Info

From elleng:

Thu Jan 13, 2022: Hard to believe it's been 40 years since the Air Florida crash into the 14th Street Bridge

Fri Jan 14, 2022: Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about that.

I think Dennis Donovan had a thread about that a few years back. I'll find it.

On the same day, there was a fatality on the Metro, which is probably why you were walking.

WTOP Retweeted

Today marks 40 years since Jan. 13, 1982 — the snowy day Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, and Metrorail experienced its first fatal derailment. A reporter reflects on changes in how breaking news is now covered.

40 years ago on WTOP: Air Florida crash, fatal Metro derailment, snowstorm | WTOP News
Today marks 40 years since Jan. 13, 1982 — the snowy day Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge, and Metrorail experienced its first fatal

Link to tweet

The story of Arland D. Williams, Jr., The Citadel Class of 1957, the man who passed the life ring to others.

{snip the weepy Reagan tweet}

40 years ago, a 737 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge during a snowstorm, killing 78

40 years ago, a 737 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge during a snowstorm, killing 78
The date also marked the first deaths on the Metrorail system after a train derailed.

Link to tweet

[COL Mustard]

1. I flew through DCA the day before

On my way back to Germany. I remember it was cold and snowy then.

Now I work at the Pentagon, so I can see where it happened. Crazy how much time has passed.

[3catwoman3]

2. This happened 10 days before our wedding. My favorite aunt, who lived in Chevy Chase MD, was going...

...to attend the wedding, which was in Denver. She never liked flying, and this crash scared her off, so she stayed home.