Northwest Airlines Flight 188
Encyclopedia
Northwest Airlines Flight 188 is a regularly scheduled flight from San Diego, California
, to Minneapolis, Minnesota
. On October 21, 2009, the flight landed over one hour late in Minneapolis after overshooting its destination. Flight 188 was piloted by Timothy Cheney as captain
and Richard Cole as first officer, who admitted to being distracted. As a result of this incident, the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) revoked the pilot certificates
of the two pilots on October 27, 2009.
took off from San Diego International Airport
at 5:01 p.m. CDT (3:01 pm in San Diego). It was scheduled to land at 8:01 p.m. CDT.
Just under two hours later, at 6:56 p.m. CDT, Air Traffic Control
lost radio contact with the aircraft while it was over Denver. Air traffic controllers at both Denver ARTCC (where contact was lost) and Minneapolis ARTCC made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the pilots. When other pilots in the area got word of the situation, they tried to help the controllers and attempted to raise the pilots as well. Northwest also sent them a text message, which went unanswered. The Airbus being flown was not equipped with an audible chime to alert the pilots to a message. Authorities were concerned enough that NORAD readied fighter jets to check on the welfare of the plane. Officials at the White House Situation Room
were also alerted.
The pilots weren't aware of their location until a flight attendant asked them what time they were due to land. The overshoot concerned air traffic controllers enough that they had the pilots perform a series of maneuvers to confirm the pilots were in control of the plane, as well as to verify that the transponder
target they were receiving on their radar was indeed Flight 188. The aircraft finally landed, over an hour late, at 9:04 p.m. CDT.
that they were discussing their schedules and each opened his laptop to review a copy of his scheduling information. Neither pilot accessed the internet inflight. Both pilots claimed that they were neither fatigued nor at any time did they take a nap.
In the United States, the FAA prohibits pilots from taking short naps, but airlines from other countries allow short naps while outside of U.S. airspace. These airlines include British Airways
, Qantas
and Air France
. The cockpit voice recorder was removed from the aircraft, but there was only 30 minutes worth of information. Over an hour's worth of information would have been needed for all of the information of the portion of the flight past Minneapolis to be available.
The pilots said they did not hear their flight number called on the radios, but heard consistent chatter which led them to believe they were on frequency. There had been a frequency change in flight by the First Officer (Cole) while the Captain (Cheney) was out of the flight deck for a restroom break. The FO failed to check in on the new frequency and instead misdialed the radio to an active Canadian Center frequency.
"You engaged in conduct that put your passengers and your crew in serious jeopardy," FAA regional counsel Eddie Thomas said in a letter to Cheney. Northwest Flight 188 was not in communications with controllers or the airline dispatchers "while you were on a frolic of your own. ... This is a total dereliction and disregard for your duties." A similar letter was sent to Cole. The revocations of the pilots' certificates became effective immediately. Pilots have 10 days to appeal emergency revocations to the NTSB.
The FAA is also investigating its air traffic controllers for the delay in notifying NORAD about Flight 188. Air traffic controllers are supposed to alert NORAD within 10 minutes of losing radio contact, but they waited over an hour. Denver Air traffic controllers admitted to being unaware of being out of contact with the flight for several sectors.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. On October 21, 2009, the flight landed over one hour late in Minneapolis after overshooting its destination. Flight 188 was piloted by Timothy Cheney as captain
Pilot in command
The pilot in command of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the "captain" in a typical two- or three-pilot flight crew, or "pilot" if there is only one certified and qualified pilot at the controls of...
and Richard Cole as first officer, who admitted to being distracted. As a result of this incident, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) revoked the pilot certificates
Pilot licensing and certification
Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits to fly aircraft that are issued by the National Aviation Authority in each country, establishing that the holder has met a specific set of knowledge and experience requirements. This includes taking a flying test. The certified pilot can then...
of the two pilots on October 27, 2009.
Incident
The Airbus A320Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
took off from San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
at 5:01 p.m. CDT (3:01 pm in San Diego). It was scheduled to land at 8:01 p.m. CDT.
Just under two hours later, at 6:56 p.m. CDT, Air Traffic Control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
lost radio contact with the aircraft while it was over Denver. Air traffic controllers at both Denver ARTCC (where contact was lost) and Minneapolis ARTCC made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the pilots. When other pilots in the area got word of the situation, they tried to help the controllers and attempted to raise the pilots as well. Northwest also sent them a text message, which went unanswered. The Airbus being flown was not equipped with an audible chime to alert the pilots to a message. Authorities were concerned enough that NORAD readied fighter jets to check on the welfare of the plane. Officials at the White House Situation Room
White House Situation Room
The White House Situation Room is a conference room and intelligence management center in the basement of the West Wing of the White House. It is run by the National Security Council staff for the use of the President of the United States and his advisors to monitor and deal...
were also alerted.
The pilots weren't aware of their location until a flight attendant asked them what time they were due to land. The overshoot concerned air traffic controllers enough that they had the pilots perform a series of maneuvers to confirm the pilots were in control of the plane, as well as to verify that the transponder
Transponder
In telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
target they were receiving on their radar was indeed Flight 188. The aircraft finally landed, over an hour late, at 9:04 p.m. CDT.
Investigation
During the investigation, the pilots told investigators with the National Transportation Safety BoardNational Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
that they were discussing their schedules and each opened his laptop to review a copy of his scheduling information. Neither pilot accessed the internet inflight. Both pilots claimed that they were neither fatigued nor at any time did they take a nap.
In the United States, the FAA prohibits pilots from taking short naps, but airlines from other countries allow short naps while outside of U.S. airspace. These airlines include British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
and Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
. The cockpit voice recorder was removed from the aircraft, but there was only 30 minutes worth of information. Over an hour's worth of information would have been needed for all of the information of the portion of the flight past Minneapolis to be available.
Findings
On October 27, 2009, the FAA revoked the pilot certificates of the two pilots. The FAA found that the pilots were out of radio contact with air traffic controllers for 77 minutes. It cited the pilots for failing to comply with air traffic control instructions and clearances, operating the plane in a careless and reckless manner, and other safety violations.The pilots said they did not hear their flight number called on the radios, but heard consistent chatter which led them to believe they were on frequency. There had been a frequency change in flight by the First Officer (Cole) while the Captain (Cheney) was out of the flight deck for a restroom break. The FO failed to check in on the new frequency and instead misdialed the radio to an active Canadian Center frequency.
"You engaged in conduct that put your passengers and your crew in serious jeopardy," FAA regional counsel Eddie Thomas said in a letter to Cheney. Northwest Flight 188 was not in communications with controllers or the airline dispatchers "while you were on a frolic of your own. ... This is a total dereliction and disregard for your duties." A similar letter was sent to Cole. The revocations of the pilots' certificates became effective immediately. Pilots have 10 days to appeal emergency revocations to the NTSB.
The FAA is also investigating its air traffic controllers for the delay in notifying NORAD about Flight 188. Air traffic controllers are supposed to alert NORAD within 10 minutes of losing radio contact, but they waited over an hour. Denver Air traffic controllers admitted to being unaware of being out of contact with the flight for several sectors.