| Date | 13 January 1982 | ||
| Type : | atmospheric icing, pilot error | ||
| Location : | Washington D.C. | ||
| Passengers : | 74 | ||
| Crew : | 5 | ||
| Fatalities : | 78 (including 4 on ground)) | ||
| Survivors : | 5 | ||
| Aircraft involved : | Boeing 737-200 | ||
| Operator : | Air Florida | ||
| IATA flight No.: | QH90 | ||
| ICAO flight No.: | FLA90 | ||
| Call sign: | PALM 90 | ||
| Aircraft registration : | N62AF | ||
| Flight origin : | Washington National Airport | ||
| Stopover: | Tampa International Airport | ||
| Destination : | Fort Lauderdale | ||
On 13 January 1982 a Boeing 737-200 belonging to Air Florida and operating Air Florida Flight 90, a scheduled domestic passenger service from Washington National Airport to Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport with a stopover at Tampa International Airport crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River.
The National Transportation Safety Board - (NTSB) determined that the cause of the accident was pilot error. The pilots had little experience flying in winter conditions and failed to switch on the engines' internal ice protection systems, used reverse thrust in a snowstorm prior to takeoff. Furthermore they failed to abort the takeoff even after detecting a power problem while taxiing and visually identifying ice and snow buildup on the wings.
Table of contents
Aircraft
The aircraft was originally purchased by United Airlines in 1969 and flown with the registration number of N9050U. In 1980 it was sold to Air Florida.
Background
Accident
Search and recovery
Passengers and crew
Investigation
Conclusions
Aftermath
In popular culture
Further reading
Aircraft accidents caused by pilot error
Aircraft accidents caused by atmospheric icing
List of aviation accidents by year
Aviation pages
Go to: Air Station
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