11 May 1996 - ValuJet 592
ValuJet Flight 592 was a flight that crashed on May 11, 1996 en route from Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, United States, to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. The crash was a large factor in undermining the credibility of the low-cost carrier ValuJet Airlines, now known as AirTran Airways.
ValuJet Flight 592 took off from Miami runway 09L at 14.04h for a flight to Atlanta. At 14.10h, while flying at 10628ft at 232kts IAS (heading 300 ) the altitude dropped 815ft and the IAS decreased 34kts in 3secs time. From then on, the FDR recorded intermittent data dropouts. Shortly thereafter the crew requested to return to Miami due to smoke in the cockpit. Flight 592 was vectored for a runway 12 approach. At 7207ft, descending at 260kts on a 210 heading, the FDR stopped recording. Fifty seconds later ValuJet 592 struck a swamp with the nose pitched down 75-80 and disintegrated.
It was concluded that there had been a very intense fire in the middle of the forward cargo hold, which burned through the cabin floor at seat rows 5 and 6 on the left hand side. Investigations focus on a fire, possibly caused by oxygen generators carried in the cargo hold. The aircraft carried boxes containing 144 oxygen canisters and two MD-80 main wheel tires in the forward hold.
11th May 1996
Crash Site: Miami, USA
Airline: ValuJet
Aircraft: DC-9
Fatailities 110
Transcript of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
CAM -- Cockpit area microphone voice or sound source
RDO -- Radio transmissions from Critter 592
ALL -- Sound source heard on all channels
INT -- Transmissions over aircraft interphone system
Tower -- Radio transmission from Miami tower or approach
UNK -- Radio transmission received from unidentified source
PA -- Transmission made over aircraft public address system
-1 -- Voice identified as Pilot-in-Command (PIC)
-2 -- Voice identified as Co-Pilot
-3 -- Voice identified as senior female flight attendant
-? -- Voice unidentified
* -- Unintelligible word
@ -- Non pertinent word
# -- Expletive
% -- Break in continuity
( ) -- Questionable insertion
[ ] -- Editorial insertion
... -- Pause
13:40:51 CAM [sound of several clicks]
13:41:17 CAM-1 below the line.
13:41:18 CAM-2 cleared to start?
13:41:19 CAM-1 received.
13:41:20 CAM-2 shoulder harness?
13:41:20 CAM-1 on.
13:41:21 CAM-2 parking brakes.
13:41:22 CAM-1 set.
13:41:23 CAM-2 fuel quantity
13:41:23 CAM-1 twenty two three.
13:41:24 CAM-2 twenty two three.
12:41:25 CAM-2 pneumatic crossfeeds?
13:41:26 CAM-1 open.
13:41:26 CAM 2 anti-collision light.
13:41:27 CAM-1 on.
13:41:29 CAM-2 air conditioning supply switches?
13:41:30 CAM 1 off.
13:41:31 CAM-2 fuel boost pumps?
13:41:32 CAM-1 on.
13:41:33 CAM-2 ignition?
13:41:33 CAM-1 on.
13:41:33 CAM-2 before start checklist complete.
13:41:48 CAM-3 do you want me to tell them *mention***information about
connections
13:41:52 CAM-1 you can tell them as we get closer ***
13:41:56 CAM-2 oil pressure and N one.
13:41:57 PA-3 and ladies and gentlemen for those of you that are all concerned
about your connections, captain Kubec just informed me as soon as we get a little bit
closer to Atianta, we're able to re, relay *messages to them...
13:42:02 ALL [sound of increasing frequency similar to generator increasing in RPM]
13:42:08 ALL [beep sound similar to momentary power interruption to CVR]
13:42:08 PA-3 ...we'll give you more information as we get it. thank you.
13:42:18 CAM-1 they're going put a stop on us?
13:42:24 CAM-1 OK, we'll be ready in about two minutes
13:42:27 GND OK thanks
13:42:31 CAM-2 uuuuuh
13:42:37 CAM-1 -- ****
13:42:47 INT-4 -- ground to captain. set brakes please.
13:42:49 CAM -- [sound similar to parking breaks being set]
13:42:50 INT-1 -- brakes are set
13:42:51 INT-4 -- thank you
13:42:57 CAM-2 -- **... fuel
13:42:58 CAM -- [sound of increasing frequency similar to generator increasing in
RPM]
13:43:00 CAM-2 thirty...five
13:43:05 CAM -- [sound of numerous clicks]
13:43:14 CAM -- [sound similar to two cabin chimes]
13:43:18 INT-? -- yeah
13:43:19 CAM-1 -- before taxi please
13:43:21 CAM-2 -- electrical panel?
13:43:23 CAM-1 -- set
13:43:23 CAM-2 -- ignition?
13:43:14 CAM-1 -- off
13:43:24 CAM-2 -- pitot static heat?
13:43:25 CAM-1 -- on
13:43:26 CAM-1 -- ice protection?
13:43:26 CAM-1 -- off
13:43:27 CAM-2 -- center tank pumps?
13:43:27 CAM-1 -- on
13:43:28 CAM-2 flight attendant signal?
13:43:28 CAM-1 given
13:43:29 CAM-2 air conditioning supply?
13:43:30 CAM-1 auto
13:43:30 CAM-2 door lights?
13:43:31 CAM-1 checked and out
13:43:32 CAM-2 and hydraulic pumps? are set, before taxi check list complete
13:43:34 CAM-1 OK, I'll pull up a little. zero two.
13:43:37 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
13:44:01 CAM-2 WINCO?
13:44:01 CAM-1 yes
13:44:22 CAM-1 clear**
13:44:23 CAM-2 clearance****
13:44:32 CAM-1 flaps five please we'll have to hold short of Zulu
13:44:36 CAM [sound of click similar to flap handle being moved]
13:44:41 CAM-1 single engine taxi, please
13:44:42 CAM-2 single engine
13:44:49 CAM-? ***
13:44:52 CAM-2 APU electric and air is set. air conditinioning uh, supply on the right
side is HP off. air conditioning auto shutoff is override. ice protection number two is
off. right pneumatic crossfeed open. number two fuel control level is off.
13:45:09 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
13:45:10 CAM [beep sound similar to momentary power interruption to CVR]
13:45:22 Zulu is way down by the end...OKaayy
13:45:31 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
13:45:34 CAM-1 before takeoff check
13:45:35 CAM-2 performance data & bugs, for a hundred and five thousand flaps
five, V two one forty six
13:45:39 CAM-1 one forty six set and...
13:45:41 CAM-2 trim?
13:45:43 CAM-1 ...and uh, one point nine nine across
13:45:45 CAM-2 yeah
13:45:48 CAM-1 ...point nine nine set cross-checked
13:45:50 CAM-2 trim controls eight APU?
13:45:51 CAM-1 eight APU, set.
13:45:52 CAM-2 flaps and stats are five and a blue light?
13:45:54 CAM-1 five gauge blue light.
13:45:56 CAM-2 flight controls yaw damper?
13:45:57 CAM-1 yaw dampers on, bottoms are checked.
13:45:59 CAM-2 tops are checked, passenger briefing done ** to the line.
13:46:03 CAM-1 OK, um, let's see where do we go? three twenty two off Dolphin. it's
a vector to Dolphin.... and I'll set three twenty two.
13:46:26 CAM-1 after WINCO it was where?\
13:46:27 CAM-2 [sound of coughing]
13:46:30 CAM-2 WINCO Lakeland Tallahassee. we gotta LaGrange six.
13:46:34 CAM-1 OK LaGrange OK Atlanta itself had decent weather. I'm sure it's
(already) changed.... OK, five grand gets blocked.
13:46:49 CAM-2 yep, three three one forty.
13:46:51 CAM-1 the departure is?
13:46:52 CAM-2 is uh, nineteen forty five.
13:46:55 CAM-1 OK...it's my takeoff, it's my abort, flaps are five, V one min is one
thirty six. runway heading to five. if we lose on takeoff. depending which runway we go
on, we'll uh, do a visual back down the runway.
13:47:09 CAM-2 OK, if we go off fou*uh, twelve then I think it's four hundred feet.
13:47:12 CAM-1 right, to come back, OK***
13:47:13 CAM-2 four hundred feet.
13:47:14 CAM-1 alright.
13:47:16 CAM-1 uh, when we're about number three tor takeoff, we'll start number
two.
13:47:19 CAM-2 *
13:47:20 CAM-1 questions... no question?
13:47:23 CAM-2 no questions.
13:47:58 CAM-1 all these airlines ya never see normally **BizJet.
13:48:01 CAM-? yeah.
13:48:04 CAM-1 is that a old Connie back there? behind those buildings?
13:48:07 CAM-2 aah, actually it's one of those L-1011s.
13:48:11 CAM-1 just behind this dirt pile here.
13:48:12 CAM-2 OK, yeah. ******
13:48:18 CAM-1 doesn't even have paint on it. twin tails right there. about two
o'clock.
13:48:30 CAM-1 hold short of Zulu, see it right there, off to the right?
13:48:33 CAM-2 aah, I see a seven forty seven there.
13:48:36 CAM-1 He's real close to us, right behind us.
13:48:38 CAM-2 ***
13:48:39 CAM-1 the antenna's off to our right here by that building...it's kinda
camouflaged.
13:48:47 CAM-2 oh this, this twin tailed thing here.
13:48:47 CAM-1 yeah.
13:48:48 CAM-2 oh, that's a uh, that's uh...
13:48:50 CAM-1 Connie?
13:48:51 CAM-2 a one, Connie one twenty one.
13:48:52 CAM-1 yeah.
13:48:53 CAM-2 son-of-a-gun. ***
13:49:44 CAM-1 *****
13:49:51 CAM-1 you want to test out the PA and talk to the people. um you can ask
if, they hear or whatever you want. understood whatever you use for words.
1350:00 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
13:50:04 PA-2 ladies and gentlemen from the cockpit uh, we're on a hold right now
for crossing traffic on the ground. ah, and we only anticipate maybe a five or ten
minute ground delay here but uh, we are cleared to Atlanta just as soon as they can
get us out through all the traffic here in Miami.
13:50:28 CAM-2 ***flying all of a sudden
13:52:38 CAM-1 which runway? its probably nine left. follow the Boeing
13:54:02 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
13:54:24 CAM-2 three oh eight now.
13:54:26 CAM-1 three oh eight, set.
13:55:32 CAM-3 there's a women up. she wants to use the bathroom.
13:55:35 CAM-1 yeah, hurry.
13:55:39 CAM-2 did you say warm it up?
13:55:41 CAM-1 no, a women's using the restroom.
13:55:43 CAM-2 aah.
13:56:52 CAM-1 engine re-start check list.
13:57:00 CAM-2 [sound of cough] left pneumatics closed, right pneumatic is open,
right air conditioning supply switch off. APU air is on. fuel pumps are on. ignition's on.
before start check list complete.
13:57:11 CAM-1 ignition is on.
13:57:13 CAM-2 number two.
13:57:14 CAM-1 @, is she still up?
13:57:16 CAM-? yes *up
13:57:21 CAM-1 nobody else up from here on in.
13:57:24 CAM-2 oil pressure.
13:57:24 CAM-1 check.
13:57:33 CAM [sound of increasing frequency similar to generator increasing in
RPM]
13:57:37 CAM-2 light's out.
13:57:39 CAM [beep sound similar to momentary power interruption to CVR]
13:57:41 CAM-1 sorry about that. I got carried away.
13:57:50 CAM-1 below the lines for re-start.
13:57:52 CAM-2 electrical panel?
13:57:53 CAM-1 is set.
13:57:54 CAM-2 APU air.
13:57:55 CAM-1 is off.
13:57:56 CAM-2 ignition?
13:57:57 CAM-1 is off.
13:57:57 CAM-2 ice protection number two engine?
13:57:59 CAM-1 is off.
13:58:00 CAM-2 air conditioning supply switches?
13:58:01 CAM-1 auto.
13:58:02 CAM-2 air conditoning auto shut off
13:58:03 CAM-1 armed.
13:58:04 CAM-2 re-start checklist complete.
13:58:26 CAM-2 [sound of coughing]
13:59:02 CAM-1 why don't you shut down the APU.
13:59:03 CAM-2 **
13:59:20 CAM-1 ***takeoff **left side. if we have to go back, we'll back it up with the
ILS. if we have to abort, you'll tell the tower we're aborting.
13:59:26 CAM-2 OK.
13:59:27 CAM-1 altimeters?
13:59:31 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
13:59:40 CAM-1 once we get past WINC, I'll probably have to set Tallahassee on
your side.
13:59:50 CAM-2 must be a big conference ***lurch***
13:59:55 CAM 1 yeah.
14:00:15 CAM 1 we're next up.
14:00:17 CAM 2 yeah.
14:00:28 CAM 2 ****
14:00:29 CAM-1 yeah.
14:00:38 CAM-2 that's gotta be frustrating for those, American guys, have to wait for
the company to give them their takeoff data.
14:00:51 CAM-1 I'd kinda like to have that problem.
14:00:52 CAM-1 [sound of chuckle]
14:01:43 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
14:02:27 CAM-1 position and hold below the line.
14:02:30 PA-2 ladies and gentlemen, we've been cleared to the runway for
departure. flight attendants please be seated.
14:02:42 CAM-2 anti-skid coming on?
14:02:43 CAM-1 yep.
14:02:46 CAM [sound similar to cockpit door being closed]
14:02:47 CAM-2 cockpit door is locked, ignition on, APU, is off, flight attendant
signal is given, anti-skid is, armed, and TA, transponder is TA RA, pneumatic
crossfeeds are closed
14:02:58 CAM-1 OK.
14:02:58 CAM-2 .... annunciator panel is checked, takeoff briefing is complete. flood
and logo lights.
14:03:01 CAM-1 OK.
14:03:02 CAM-2 ****
14:03:31 CAM 1 **lights are on.
14:03:34 CAM [sound similar to engines increasing in RPM]
14:03:35 CAM-1 bleeds are closed.
14:03:39 CAM-1 set takeoff power.
14:03:42 CAM-2 power is set, we have ninety five, ninety four.
14:03:47 CAM [sound of clunks increasing in frequency similar to aircraft nose tire
traveling over bumps in runway]
14:03:57 CAM-2 * hundred knots
14:03:58 CAM-1 check.
14:04:07 CAM-2 V one.
14:04:07 CAM-1 check
14:04:09 CAM-2 V r
14:04:15 CAM-2 positive rate.
14:04:15 CAM-1 gear up.
14:04:16 CAM-2 V two
14:04:20 CAM-2 five.
14:04:21 CAM [sound similar to stabilizer-in-motion indicator]
14:04:31 CAM-1 flaps up.
14:04:32 RDO-? afternoon departure critter five ninety two is out of five hundred
going to five thousand.
14:04:36 Tower: critter five ninety two departure good afternoon radar contact climb
and maintain seven thousand.
14:04:39 RDO-? seven thousand five nine two.
14:04:43 CAM-1 slats retract.
14:04:44 CAM-2 slats retract.
14:04:46 CAM [Sound of click]
14:04:50 CAM [sound simliar to stabilizer-in-motion indicator]
14:05:05 CAM-2 following the Boeing straight ahead of us in a turn.
14:05:07 CAM-1 OK.
14:05:18 PA-3 and, ladies and gentlemen, captain Kubeck will turn off the fasten
seat belt sign just as soon she feels it's safe for you to get up and move about the
cabin. until that time, please remain comfortably seated) with your seat belts securely
fastened. we also suggest for your safety that seatbelts be fastened even after the
sign has been turned off. shortly we will begin our in flight service. we are pleased to
offer you a variety of soft drinks, coffee, and juices. cocktails are available for three
dollars. beer and wine are available for two dollars. as always, correct change is
greatly, greatly appreciated for a complete listing of our complimentary beverages,
they may be found on page five of our Good Times magazine. for now we just ask
that you sit back and relax and enjoy your flight to Atlanta, Georgia.
14:05:44 Tower critter five ninety two turn left heading three six zero.
14:05:47 RDO-? three six zero five ninety two.
14:05:49 CAM-1 three six zero climb power, climb check.
14:05:56 CAM-2 power's set.
14:06:29 CAM-2 gears up and checked, flaps up, lights out, spoilers, is disarmed,
the ignition is off, fuel pumps are set, air conditioning shutoff is override, hydraulic
pumps off and low, flood and logo lights at ten, and altimeters at eighteen.
14:06:40 CAM-1 thank you.
14:06:42 CAM [sound similar to stabilizer-in-motion indicator]
14:06:49 Tower: critter five ninety two turn left heading three three zero.
14:06:55 RDO-1 three three zero five nine two
14:07:18 CAM-1 six for seven.
14:07:18 CAM-2 six for seven.
14:07:22 CAM-1 [tone similar to altitude alert signal]
14:07:22 Tower critter five ninety two turn left heading three zero zero join the winco
transition climb and maintain one six thousand.
14:07:29 RDO-? three zero zero the heading join the wink at sixteen thousand critter
five nine two
14:07:33 CAM-1 ****clear left
14:07:41 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
14:07:42 CAM-1 ***lets turn on the radar***
14:08:00 CAM-2 got something out there about eighty miles out.
14:08:02 CAM-1 OK.
14:08:03 CAM-2 that must be that thunderstorm.
14:08:08 CAM-1 there's a break here like ***
14:08:28 CAM-1 I'd hate to be in this thing at a hundred and eight thousand and in
through this weather.
14:08:32 CAM-2 yeah.
14:09:18 CAM-2 [sound of cough]
14:09:21 CAM-1 **
14:09.26 CAM [sound similar to stabilizer-in-motion indicator]
14:09:30 CAM-2 you don't want to hold them down for a while, did ya ?
14:09:32 CAM-1 no, they're OK for right now.
14:09:36 PA-2 flight attendants, departure check please.
14:09:44 CAM-1 we're *** turbulence
14:09:02 CAM [sound of click]
14:10:03 CAM [sound of chirp heard on cockpit area microphone channel with
simultaneous beep on public address/interphone channel]
14:10:07 CAM-1 what was that?
14:10:08 CAM-2 I don't know.
14:10:12 CAM-1 *** ('bout to lose a bus?)
14:10:15 CAM-1 we got some electrical problem.
14:10:17 CAM-2 yeah.
14:10:18 CAM-2 that battery charger's kickin' in. ooh, we gotta.
14:10:20 CAM-1 we're losing everything.
14:10:21 Tower Critter five-nine-two, contact Miami center on one-thirty-two-forty-five,
so long.
14:10:22 CAM-1 we need, we need to go back to Miami.
14:10:23 CAM [sounds of shouting from passenger cabin]
14:10:25 CAM-? fire, fire, fire, fire [from female voices in cabin]
14:10:27 CAM-? we're on fire, we're on fire. [from male voice]
14:10:28 CAM [sound of tone similar to landing gear warning horn for three seconds]
14:10:29 Tower Critter five-ninety-two contact Miami center, one-thirty-two-forty-five.
14:10:30 CAM-1 ** to Miami.
14:10:32 RDO-2 Uh, five-ninety-two needs immediate return to Miami.
14:10:35 Tower Critter five-ninety-two, uh, roger, turn left heading two-seven-zero.
Descend and maintain seven-thousand.
14:10:36 CAM [sounds of shouting from passenger cabin subsides]
14:10:39 RDO-2 Two-seven-zero, seven-thousand, five-ninety-two.
14:10:41 Tower What kind of problem are you havin'?
14:10:42 CAM [sound of horn]
14:10:44 CAM-1 fire
14:10:46 RDO-2 Uh, smoke in the cockpit ... smoke in the cabin.
14:10:47 Tower Roger.
14:10:49 CAM-1 what altitude?
14:10:49 CAM-2 seven thousand.
14:10:52 CAM [sound similar to cockpit door moving]
14:10:57 CAM [sound of six chimes similar to cabin service interphone]
14:10:58 CAM-3 OK, we need oxygen, we can't get oxygen back here.
14:11:00 INT [sound similar to microphone being keyed only on Interphone channel]
14:11:02 CAM-3 *ba*, is there a way we could test them? [sound of clearing her
voice]
14:11:07 Tower Critter five-ninety-two, when able to turn left heading two-five-zero.
Descend and maintain five-thousand.
14:11:08 CAM [sound of chimes similar to cabin service interphone]
14:11:10 CAM [sounds of shouting from passenger cabin]
14:11:11 RDO-2 Two-five-zero seven-thousand.
14:11:12 CAM-3 completely on fire.
14:11:14 CAM [sounds of shouting from passenger cabin subsides]
14:11:19 CAM-2 outta nine.
14:11:19 CAM [sound of intermittent horn]
14:11:21 CAM [sound similar to loud rushing air]
14:11:38 CAM-2 Critter five-ninety-two, we need the, uh, closest airport available ...
14:11:42 Tower Critter five-ninety-two, they're going to be standing by for you. You
can plan runway one two to dolpin now.
14:11:45 one minute and twelve second interruption in CVR recording]
14:11:46 RDO-? Need radar vectors.
14:11:49 Tower critter five ninety two turn left heading one four zero 14:11:52 RDO-?
one four zero
14:12:57 CAM [sound of tone similar to power interruption to CVR]
14:12:57 CAM [sound similar to loud rushing air]
14:12:57 ALL [sound of repeating tones similar to CVR self test signal start and
continue]
14:12:58 Tower critter five ninety two contact Miami approach on corrections no you
you just keep my frequency
14:13:11 CAM [interruption of unknown duration in CVR recording] 14:13:15 CAM
[sounds of repeating tones similar to recorder self-test signal starts and continues,
rushing air.]
14:13:18 Tower critter five ninety two you can uh turn left heading one zero zero and
join the runway one two localizer at Miami
14:13:25: End of CVR recording.
14:13:27 Tower critter five ninety two descend and maintain three thousand
14:13:43 Tower critter five ninety two Opa Locka airports aout ah twelve o'clock at
fifteen miles
[End of Recording]
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