The Tragic Story of Air Florida Flight 90 and the Deadly Mistakes That Led to Disaster

On a cold January afternoon in 1982, Air Florida Flight 90, a Boeing 737, left Washington D.C.’s Reagan Airport bound for sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The flight was meant to be a routine trip, just over an hour long, but what followed would become one of the most tragic aviation accidents in U.S. history. 

Just moments after takeoff, Flight 90 was in serious trouble, and it quickly became clear that the flight would not be making it to its destination.

The Boeing 737, carrying 74 passengers and 5 crew members, was experiencing significant mechanical difficulties just minutes after it began climbing into the sky.

Violent shaking rattled the plane, and the cabin was filled with the pungent smell of burning oil, rubber, and metal. Flames began to shoot from one of the engines, and panic set in.

Desperate to keep the aircraft airborne, the pilots struggled to make crucial decisions, and what followed were a series of deadly mistakes that ultimately led to the crash. 

The consequences of these errors would be felt not just by those on board, but also by those on the 14th Street Bridge and in the icy waters of the Potomac River, where the plane eventually crashed.

The captain of the flight, 34-year-old Larry Wheaton, was an experienced pilot with over 8,000 flying hours, but his record was marred by previous suspensions and poor performance.

Just two years earlier, Wheaton had been suspended for failing to adhere to critical aviation procedures, and he had failed multiple proficiency checks.

Although he resumed flying after passing a retest, his record raised concerns about his competence in cold weather operations, which would later play a pivotal role in the crash.

The first officer, 31-year-old Roger Pettit, had only just over 3,000 hours of flying time, most of it on military jets. Though he had been with Air Florida for less than a year, Pettit was considered an excellent pilot.

However, like Wheaton, Pettit was not accustomed to flying in cold, icy conditions. They were both new to winter flying and had little experience in situations involving icy runways and snow-covered aircraft.

The plane was a 12-year-old Boeing 737-200, a reliable aircraft but one that would prove problematic in this particular situation. The winter conditions in Washington were severe, and snow and ice were accumulating on the aircraft’s wings and body.

The wings of an aircraft are meticulously designed to provide the necessary lift, and even a small amount of ice on the surface can disrupt the flow of air, rendering the aircraft unflyable.

Captain Wheaton called for the plane to be de-iced before departure, but the delays in airport operations meant that the de-icing process was not as effective as it should have been.

As the plane sat on the tarmac waiting to take off, the icy buildup on the wings posed a growing threat. De-icing fluid was sprayed on the aircraft twice, but the fluid's effectiveness was short-lived, and snow began to accumulate again.

Despite the increasing snow, the pilots were eager to push forward with takeoff due to the long queue of planes waiting behind them. Captain Wheaton decided to use reverse thrust from the engines to assist in pushing the plane back, an unorthodox and dangerous maneuver. Though the tug operator advised against it, Wheaton insisted, unaware of the unintended consequences of his actions.

The reverse thrust from the engines caused the snow on the wings to melt and refreeze, resulting in a dangerous buildup of ice on the leading edges of the wings. Ice on the wings is one of the most hazardous conditions an aircraft can face, as it disrupts airflow and significantly reduces lift.

The pilots, however, failed to fully comprehend the risks and continued with their preparations for takeoff, making another crucial mistake in the process.

As the plane taxied toward the runway, the pilots noticed unusual engine readings. The engine pressure ratio (EPR) for the right engine was showing lower than expected, and the pilots mistakenly attributed this to the influence of the plane ahead of them.

The cause, however, was ice that had accumulated on the sensors of the right engine. Neither pilot considered the possibility that the ice buildup was affecting the engine’s performance readings, and they continued to press forward. The confusion over the engine instruments only added to the mounting errors.

As Flight 90 prepared for takeoff, the pilots’ sense of urgency increased. A jet on final approach was rapidly approaching, and there was pressure to get the plane off the ground to avoid a potential collision.

The pilots attempted to push the plane forward, but it accelerated much slower than expected. Captain Wheaton blamed the cold weather for the slow acceleration, but it was clear that the aircraft was not functioning as it should. The strange engine readings should have been a warning sign, but the pilots dismissed them, attributing the discrepancies to the extreme cold.

Just before takeoff, the aircraft’s engines began to experience further problems. The ice buildup on the wings led to a phenomenon known as "ice accretion," where the plane’s lift is compromised, and the engines begin to struggle.

As the aircraft began to accelerate down the runway, it became clear that something was terribly wrong. The plane’s speed was slower than expected, and the engines were not producing the necessary thrust to achieve a safe takeoff.

Despite the warning signs, the pilots pressed on, committed to taking off. The plane eventually reached a critical speed and began to lift off the ground, but it was clear that the aircraft was unstable.

As the plane climbed, the ice on the wings and the malfunctioning engines began to take their toll. The aircraft struggled to maintain speed, and the left engine, in particular, began to fail dramatically.

The pilots were forced to abort the climb and attempt to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, their mistakes earlier in the flight had left them with limited options.

With the left engine inoperable and the aircraft losing altitude rapidly, the pilots attempted to glide the plane to a nearby runway. Tragically, they were unable to reach the runway in time.

The plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., and then plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River. A scene of utter devastation unfolded, with the plane breaking into pieces upon impact.

In the aftermath, 74 people were killed, and only six survivors were pulled from the wreckage. The investigation into the crash revealed a series of critical mistakes made by the flight crew, including the failure to properly de-ice the plane, the misidentification of engine issues, and the decision to proceed with takeoff despite the aircraft’s obvious instability.

The crash of Flight 90 highlighted the dangers of winter operations and the importance of proper training and decision-making under pressure.

The tragic events of Flight 90 served as a wake-up call for the aviation industry. In the years following the crash, there were significant changes in how airlines handled winter weather, including improved de-icing protocols, better training for pilots in cold weather operations, and an emphasis on using modern technology to identify potential engine issues.

The lessons learned from the crash of Flight 90 have made flying safer today, but the loss of life remains a haunting reminder of the consequences of negligence and poor decision-making in the face of extreme weather conditions.