Expert: D. Norkus - 2/4/2007

Question
This is probably the best airplane accident reaanactment video i've ever seen. Im just confused about some things pertaining to the video.

Part I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=r84EA-xTIKo

Part II
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-poRLXRaRSw&mode=related&search=

What is the difference between ATC and take off clearance? I know they said it in the video, but I was just wondering if you could elaborate on it. Did anyone survive in this disaster? After the collision, the Pan Am 747 still looked intact. Did the pilots or any passengers of that flight live? If the KLM 747 didnt take all that fuel, do you think that it could've taken off in time to avoid the collision? Whos fault is it, ATC or pilot? Thanks.  

Answer
Kevin

Unfortunately, my computer doesn't like Youtube.com links very much. I can never get them to open. However I have seen some documentaries and read about this event.

1)What is the difference between an ATC and take off clearance?

A "takeoff clearance" is permission from the control tower at that airport to depart the runway in use. An ATC clearance, or simply the flights "clearance" is their filed flight plan on file with ATC. It contains their route of flight, departure procedure, initial altitude assignment and transponder code among other bits of info.


2)Did anyone survive in this disaster? Pilots or passengers?  After the collision, the Pan Am 747 still looked intact.

Yes, some onboard the Pan Am 747 did survive. On the KLM aircraft all were lost. The Dutch jumbo had a crew of 14 with 234 passengers. The Pan Am jet had a crew of 16 (7 lived, including the First Officer) with 380 passengers (54 lived).

Here is a video link on the crash that includes interviews with some survivors-
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/192426/doumentary_the_tenerife_disaster/

The NOVA special "The Deadliest Plane Crash" (check Amazon.com if you are interested) was very good. It took Pan Am First Officer Robert Bragg back to the scene of the disaster a few years ago, where he recounted his experience.  He was even picking up small bits of the jets from the grass that still lay there decades later.


3)If the KLM 747 didn't take all that fuel, do you think that it could've taken off in time to avoid the collision?

If it were lighter, there certainly is the possibility that KLM could have gained more altitude and passed over Pan Am in a near miss. Then again, you can also Monday morning quarterback 'what if the F/O had been more assertive telling the Captain that he was unsure if they were cleared to depart?'. So many things, if only one could have been changed. But that is how it usually is, a chain of errors.  

4)Whos fault is it, ATC or pilot?

The final accident report laid blame with both. Personally, I feel that Capt Van Zaanten holds the lions share of the blame. He rejected his First Officers doubt, without hesitation, and did not verify the takeoff clearance. This was after he already had once been told by his F/O that he had made that same mistake moments earlier. Back then, the Captain was a treated like a "god", so he may have been irritated a subordinate pointed out his error and was calling him on yet another. In his haste to depart he simply made a terrible mistake. Unfortunately it cost the lives of hundreds of innocent people.

Read over the CVR transcript of the flights here-
http://aviation-safety.net/investigation/cvr/transcripts/cvr_kl4805.php

Ironicly, when KLM in Amsterdam was informed of the disaster they immediately went looking for Capt Van Zaanten to send him to Tenerife, as he was one of their most respected Check Airman. Little did they know that he had been a factor in the accident!

I think you will find this page, on the factors and cause,  of great interest. It contains text from the actual accident report-

"Secretary of Aviation Report On Tenerife Crash
KLM, B-747, PH-BUF and Pan Am B-747 N736 collision at Tenerife Airport Spain on 27 March 1977".
Report dated October 1978 released by the Secretary of Civil Aviation , Spain
Prepared by Harro Ranter  Source: Aircraft Accident Digest (ICAO Circular 153-AN/56) page 22-68.

http://www.panamair.org/accidents/victor.htm

Hope this helps,
Dottie