Ultralight Crashes into Idaho School-Scant details

What: Ultralight crashed into school
Where: Kootenai County, Atlas Elementary School, located at 3000 W. Honeysuckle.
When: Aug 29, 2008
Who: No students were involved; school is not in session.
Why: Damage resulted in a gas leak at the school.

Spanair Death Toll Rises

Most recent update:

Family given wrong remains after the crash. Apparently this was not a DNA error, just a delivery error.

The Facts

• What: Spanair Flight JK5022, a 15-year-old MD-82 jet bound bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.


• Where: Madrid airport Terminal Four


• When: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 2:45pm


• Who: Carrying 166 passengers and nine crew, at the time of this writing, the number of fatalities had mounted to 154 people.


• Why: The jet swerved off the runway and caught fire during takeoff. Spanish Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil (CIAIAC) is investigating

Update
Two of the eighteen survivors are in critical condition. A 44 year old woman is in an irreversible coma.
The death toll from the crash just rose to 154. A woman suffering burns to 72 per cent of her body died in a hospital. Eighteen survivors remain hospitalized. In spite of DNA testing, only 86 of the 154 victims have been identified.

Individuals who lost family members in this disaster should consider retaining a proven aviation law firm or get their case evaluated.

Have you wondered about the MD-82? See the database of MD-82 Accidents and Incidents for Yourself

Tam Air Crash-More than a Year ago

We have not forgotten. We will never forget.

GOL Crash Investigation Continues

Ever since the GOL crash on September 29, 2006, there has been a question why the private Legacy 600 corporate jet was flying north at 37,000 feet. Brazil's aviation regulations require planes flying from Brasilia to Manaus to travel at even-numbered altitudes -- 36,000 or 38,000 feet. The pilots had flown to Brasilia at 37,000 feet, and were supposed to descend to 36,000 feet as they continued to Manaus. The pilots claim they were at the correct altitude. Their attempts to talk to the tower failed.

There is argument back and forth whether or not there are radio blind spots in the dense jungle. There is also question about the communication systems. The Boeing 737-800 (PR-GTD) operated by Gol Airlines of Brazil was destroyed by in flight breakup and impact forces; all 154 occupants were fatally injured in remote jungle terrain with difficult access.

it appears that the left winglet of the Legacy contacted theBoeing 737's left wing's leading edge, separating the outer portion of the wing and a rendering the 737 uncontrollable.

Spanair Update

Updates

• Spain is holding three days of mourning; silent vigils; flags at half mast.


• Only 25 bodies have been identified. The others were burned beyond recognition. DNA id will have to be used.


• Of the 22 children on board, only three survived.


• The condition of four of the survivors was very serious, six were in bad condition and eight were being monitored.


• Alvarez said that the plane was 15 years old and had passed an annual inspection in the end of 2007. Spainair claims that the last inspection of the plane took place on January 24 2008,


• The flight recorder of the plane's black box has been recovered.


• The only passengers to survive were those who fell into a stream and avoided severe burns.


• On SER radio, survivor Ligia Palomino said "They supposedly fixed the problem which the pilot later said was with the air conditioning and then we took off. The plane was wobbling from one side to another. Then I began to suspect we would crash. I don't know what happened next. I was in a sort of river and saw people, smoke, explosions -- which I think woke me up."


• Spanish sailors Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz wore black armbands when receiving gold medals in the Olympic Games on Thursday, after officials turned down a request to allow the Spanish flag to fly at half-mast.


• A rescued child thought he was in a film. According to a rescue fireman the child said "When will this film end?Where is my Dad?" Is it real?" but he wanted the film to end.


• Spanair MD-82 1st attempt at takeoff abandoned because a gauge indicated overheating. On the 2nd attempt, an engine caught fire. Perhaps the gauge was correct?

Tragically, only 19 people of the 166 passengers and six crew aboard survived; the victim count of the Spanair crash has risen to 153, the flight that had been delayed by a problem with the heating system of the air intake. The airline listed 157 passengers and 10 unnamed crew.

Spanair Press Releases available here