The Set of Mistakes That Drove Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 to Lose in 1985
On January 21, 1985, 38 years ago, Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 crashed, ending the lives of 70 of its total 71 crew members and passengers. Definitely a bad day! The Super Bowl charter aircraft, operated by Galaxy Airlines, was sponsored by the Lake Tahoe, Nevada-based Caesars Casino.
A 25-year-old Lockheed L-188 Electra with the tail number N5532 and four turboprop engines was the plane that crashed and led to such serious damage. The aircraft parts and burnt human parts marked black day!
At that time, beginning the new day at SEA, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 was Galaxy Airlines Flight 201 headed for OAK, Oakland International Airport. The aircraft built with super-efficient aviation parts, which is presently recognized as Galaxy Airlines Flight 202, departed from Oakland towards Nevada's RNO, Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
A powerful team of high rollers from Minnesota was flown to Lake Tahoe for a Super Bowl party, and the prospect of gambling appreciated the arrangements prepared by Caesars Tahoe. Do you know? Casinos were not as reputed back then as they are in the current scenario. The only spots in the US where you could gamble in 1985 were Tahoe, Reno, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City.
Gamblers leaving Lake Tahoe were boarding the aircraft in droves.
The gamblers were on the plane, preparing to take off for Minneapolis after a weekend of partying that concluded with seeing the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Miami Dolphins 38–16. The flight's first officer called Reno Tower at around 00:59 and asked for taxi directions. He was ordered to taxi to Runway 16R for takeoff.
Once A Plane Full of Gamblers
The full gamblers were on the plane, ready to take off for Minneapolis after a weekend of partying that resulted in witnessing the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Miami Dolphins 38 to 16. The flight's first officer contacted Reno Tower at around 00:59 and ordered taxi directions. He was suggested to taxi to Runway 16R for takeoff.
The first officer spotted and ordered clearance to take off. The request was approved just after four seconds, and the aircraft accelerated as it descended the runway. There was a unique sound as the aircraft flew through V1, and then it happened once more as it approached V2.
Lowered the Power to the Engine
There was strong shaking soon after taking to the air. The captain reduced the throttle because he thought the engines or the propellers were the reason for the tremor. The pilot turned the aircraft, which was built with the best aircraft parts, to head back toward Reno Airport when it was about 250 feet in the air.
The now underpowered aircraft stalled at the turn and crashed into a field, catching fire. That was the sad thing that happened that day! A 17-year-old child who was just ejected from the plane during the impact was the only person to escape the disaster. The only good thing!
A Clear Investigation of the Crash!
The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) entered the point that pilot error was the most probable reason after doing a great investigation. They emphasized that the first officer's fault for not controlling the airspeed of the plane was due to the captain's failure to correct it. They claimed that after the vibrations, there was a breakdown in communication between the copilot and the captain.
Another major reasonable point to the accident was the inappropriate closure of the air start access door by the ground crew. The NTSB came to the point that this was what was causing the tremors. Finally, the captain's big error was turning the engines back on because he thought they were the source of the vibration. If he hadn't done it, the aircraft would have been capable of reaching cruising speed and making it without incident to MSP, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
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