In aviation, experts agree that catastrophic accidents like these do not occur due to one small or large mistake rather, there are a multitude of factors that snowball, compounding on each other until an accident happens. A total of 583 died from the accident, though 70 survived with nonfatal injuries. The KLM aircraft hit the side of the Pan Am aircraft, and both burst into flames. The pilots rotated early, causing a tailstrike. The KLM aircraft is traveling much too fast to stop in time, but too slow to get airborne, which is what they tried to do. When Pan Am sees the KLM aircraft hurtling towards them, they attempt to turn off the runway, but there isn't enough time for them to completely vacate the runway. Before they began the takeoff roll, the flight engineer asks the captain if the Pan Am aircraft was clear of the runway the captain responds with an emphatic "oh, yes". At this point, Pan Am is still taxiing down the runway. KLM begins its takeoff roll at 5:06, disobeying the controller's instruction to stand by. This is the final ATC transmission before the accident. Pan Am: ok, will report when we're clear. Tower: ah - papa alpha one seven three six report the runway clear. Tower: OK… stand by for takeoff, I will call you. KLM: ah - Roger, sir, we are cleared to the Papa beacon, flight level nine zero until intercepting the three two five. Tower: KLM eight seven zero five you are cleared to the Papa Beacon, climb to and maintain flight level nine zero, right turn after takeoff, proceed with heading four zero until intercepting the three two five radial from Las Palmas VOR KLM: The KLM four eight zero five is now ready for takeoff and we are waiting for our ATC clearance See the specific interaction transcribed: However, the controller did not specify which specific intersection to exit at (C-3 or C-4), which may have caused some confusion.Īt 5:05, KLM advises Tower that they are ready for departure. ATC tells them to taxi on runway 12 and exit the runway at the third intersection, then taxi on the taxiway to runway 30 for takeoff. Nacional, Google.Īt 5:02, the Pan Am aircraft is also ready for departure.
This is a Google Maps image of Tenerife airport, with the runways and intersections labeled. This means that each physical runway is actually two, since aircraft can take off in either direction. Runways are numbered based on their magnetic heading, with the three digit number (between 0-360, with 360 degrees being North) rounded to the nearest ten, then with the last digit truncated. However, the message is misunderstood, so ATC amends their clearance, telling them instead to backtrack the entire length of the runway and make a 180 degree turn at the end to take off on runway 30. They are told to backtrack on runway 12 until the next available exit, then taxi on the parallel taxiway to runway 30 for takeoff.
At 4:46, KLM contacts the ATC tower and requests permission to taxi.
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