The Washington Post has a very interesting article today on the long term impact of the crash of Air Florida 90 on January 13, 1982. Air Florida Flight 90 was a Boeing 737-222 airliner that crashed into the 14th Street Bridge across the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1982 immediately after takeoff in a severe snowstorm. The accident claimed the lives of 78 people, including four in cars on the 14th Street Bridge. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the cause of the accident was aircraft icing and the failure of the pilots to use all of their anti-icing equipment or abort the takeoff.
The key element is “abort the takeoff”. Cockpit conversations show that the pilot did a perfunctory checklist, ignoring when the co-pilot indicated the plane’s de-icing system was turned off. He then ignored the concerns of the co-pilot:
“God, look at that thing,” he told the plane’s captain, Larry Wheaton, apparently referring to an anomaly in engine instrument readings or throttle position. “That doesn’t seem right, does it?”
The article goes on to note the impact of this on communication and authority. Since the crash, the absolute authority of the captain and others in similar roles (surgeons) has gone by the wayside. They are encouraged in many ways to listen to underlings, to pay attention to checklists. I see this in my job regularly where everyone is regularly reminded our role in mission success: if we identify any anomoly, we are to bring it to the attention of the appropriate individuals (forcefully, if necessary).
So what can we take from this as individuals: It is important to speak out when you see something that isn’t right. Be that at work, in our political system, in life. Back in the 1960’s, college students urged us to “Question Authority”. It is always a good thing to do. Speaking up is vitally important if our country, our society, and our world is to succeed and survive.
While we are talking about speaking out, remember that this is National Delurking Week. I encourage you to speak out. Let me know what you think about this post, about this journal, about life in general. Remember, if you don’t leave a comment, I’ll think you agree with everything I say.
