Comair Flight 5191

Comair Flight 5191
National Transportation Safety Board · Public domain · source
Occurrence type	Accident
Summary	Runway incursion and takeoff from wrong runway leading to stall and crash
Site	Near Blue Grass Airport, Lexington, Kentucky
Aircraft type	Bombardier CRJ100ER
Operator	Comair
Tail number	N431CA
Origin	Blue Grass Airport
Destination	Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Passengers	47
Fatalities	49

Comair Flight 5191 was a scheduled regional passenger flight operated by Comair between Lexington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio that crashed on takeoff on August 27, 2006. The accident resulted in the deaths of 49 of the 50 people on board and prompted extensive inquiries by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and multiple legal authorities. The crash had broad implications for air traffic control procedures, airport signage standards, and regional airline operations across the United States.

Flight and accident

The flight departed Concourse operations at Blue Grass Airport shortly before dawn, cleared by local air traffic control personnel for takeoff on the designated runway. The aircraft initiated a takeoff roll but became airborne briefly then impacted terrain beyond the end of the paved surface, leading to a postimpact fire and rapid emergency response by Lexington Fire Department and Lexington Police Department. Survivors and witnesses, including nearby motorists on Interstate 75 and Interstate 64, described the aircraft's low climb and abrupt descent toward a tree line adjacent to the airport property. Media organizations such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN provided immediate coverage, while national officials from the Department of Transportation and representatives from Airlines for America monitored developments.

Aircraft and crew

The airplane involved was a Bombardier CRJ100ER regional jet, manufacturer serial number tied to Bombardier Aerospace production records, operated by Comair under a Delta Connection codeshare with Delta Air Lines. The cockpit crew consisted of a captain with extensive hours logged on regional jets and a first officer who had recently been qualified on the CRJ series after training recorded in Federal Aviation Administration records. The passenger manifest included a mix of business travelers, students from University of Kentucky and Transylvania University, and residents from the Lexington metropolitan area. Aircraft maintenance history and Airworthiness Directive compliance were later reviewed against Bombardier service bulletins and Comair maintenance logs.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board launched the formal investigation, assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration, Bombardier, the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, and manufacturers involved in avionics and engines. Investigators examined the wreckage, cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered by NTSB investigators, and airport surveillance tapes from Blue Grass Airport and adjacent facilities. An array of aviation specialists from NASA and academic institutions were consulted for human factors analysis, runway signage interpretation, and performance modeling. Major news outlets including USA Today, ABC News, and Associated Press followed the probe; the NTSB held public briefings and released preliminary factual reports before issuing a final probable cause determination.

Causes and contributing factors

The NTSB concluded that the probable cause involved the flight crew's failure to use available cues to identify the correct runway, resulting in an attempted takeoff from a shorter, intersecting grass or inactive paved surface. Contributing factors included crew fatigue and preflight planning deficiencies documented in FAA records, airport layout and insufficient runway surface markings consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization and Federal Aviation Administration standards, and inadequate airport signage and lighting at Blue Grass Airport. Human factors experts referenced research from University of Illinois and University of Michigan on spatial orientation and cockpit decision-making, while organizational oversight by SABRE-era flight operations and regional carrier scheduling practices were examined. The interplay of these elements was compared to previous incidents involving runway confusion investigated by the NTSB and cited in ICAO circulars.

Aftermath and safety changes

Following the accident, Blue Grass Airport implemented redesigned taxiway and runway signage, enhanced runway guard lighting, and repainted surface markings to conform with FAA Advisory Circulars and ICAO standards. The Federal Aviation Administration issued guidance to improve runway safety areas, required revised airport procedures at certain regional facilities, and accelerated programs addressing runway incursion prevention. Airlines and industry groups such as Regional Airline Association and Air Transport Association revised crew briefing checklists and reinforced sterile cockpit and runway verification procedures during low-visibility and nighttime operations. Aviation safety organizations including Flight Safety Foundation and Aviation Safety Network promulgated analyses and recommendations to reduce the risk of similar events.

Legal and regulatory actions

Numerous civil lawsuits were filed by families of the victims in Fayette County, Kentucky and federal courts, leading to settlements involving Comair and insurers, and engagement by plaintiffs' counsel known from high-profile aviation litigation. Regulatory scrutiny by the Federal Aviation Administration included compliance audits of Comair and enhanced oversight of regional carriers operating under air carrier certificates. Legislative attention in the United States Congress prompted hearings on runway safety and funding for airport infrastructure through appropriations overseen by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The NTSB's final report resulted in safety recommendations to the FAA, Department of Transportation, and airport authorities that influenced national policy on runway signage, lighting, and crew procedures.

Category:Airliner accidents and incidents in the United States Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2006 Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Bombardier CRJ100/200 series Category:August 2006 events in the United States