Wreckage of Continental Flight 1404 at DIA (December 21, 2008)
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DENVER -
The investigation into what went wrong on flight 1404 began back in December immediately after it crashed during a freezing takeoff with blustery winds.
The National Transportation Safety Board has now released to the public all of the documentation it has gathered related to the crash.
It includes up close photos of the broken plane's parts, with detailed skid marks on and off runway 34 right.
Among over a thousand pages of documentation in the NTSB's factual report on the crash.
"These pilots did everything that they possibly could, everything that they trained for, utilizing every bit of their experience to try to keep this airplane on the runway," said aviation safety consultant and airline pilot Steve Cowell, "And unfortunately they lost that battle."
Cowell says while not completely ruling out a mechanical failure, the report points to wind as the main culprit.
"I believe that there's a total of 64 sensors around Denver International Airport," said Cowell, "Which is unheard of for any other airport in this country."
Flight 1404's Captain told investigators at first the flight felt like a normal cross wind takeoff which all pilots train for.
But then, a massive gust of wind pushed the plane hard to the left even after he tried a full right rudder to correct it's path, feeling like they were sliding on ice.
"Just mere seconds into the takeoff roll there were some tremendous gusts that affected this airplane," said Cowell.
The pilot may have saved lives, as he tried to keep the wings level when the plane left to runway preventing it from flipping on its side.
Forty one of the 110 passengers and five crew on board were injured but no one was killed.
Both pilots say the violent slide, just as they reached take off speed made it impossible to keep the airplane from careening over fields and a taxiway and road, before coming to rest and catching fire.
"Any captain during a takeoff briefing will tell you that anything that happens before your takeoff safety speed, especially an engine failure, engine fire or loss of directional control you will reject that takeoff," said Cowell.
The NTSB does not set deadlines for reaching a final conclusion, so it's unclear when they will.
But as far as safety, Denver International Airport was built with gusting winds as part of its plan.
And after nearly 15 years of operation, there's only been this one accident which pilots and aviation experts say proves it's very safe.
The National Transportation Safety Board has now released to the public all of the documentation it has gathered related to the crash.
It includes up close photos of the broken plane's parts, with detailed skid marks on and off runway 34 right.
Among over a thousand pages of documentation in the NTSB's factual report on the crash.
"These pilots did everything that they possibly could, everything that they trained for, utilizing every bit of their experience to try to keep this airplane on the runway," said aviation safety consultant and airline pilot Steve Cowell, "And unfortunately they lost that battle."
Cowell says while not completely ruling out a mechanical failure, the report points to wind as the main culprit.
"I believe that there's a total of 64 sensors around Denver International Airport," said Cowell, "Which is unheard of for any other airport in this country."
Flight 1404's Captain told investigators at first the flight felt like a normal cross wind takeoff which all pilots train for.
But then, a massive gust of wind pushed the plane hard to the left even after he tried a full right rudder to correct it's path, feeling like they were sliding on ice.
"Just mere seconds into the takeoff roll there were some tremendous gusts that affected this airplane," said Cowell.
The pilot may have saved lives, as he tried to keep the wings level when the plane left to runway preventing it from flipping on its side.
Forty one of the 110 passengers and five crew on board were injured but no one was killed.
Both pilots say the violent slide, just as they reached take off speed made it impossible to keep the airplane from careening over fields and a taxiway and road, before coming to rest and catching fire.
"Any captain during a takeoff briefing will tell you that anything that happens before your takeoff safety speed, especially an engine failure, engine fire or loss of directional control you will reject that takeoff," said Cowell.
The NTSB does not set deadlines for reaching a final conclusion, so it's unclear when they will.
But as far as safety, Denver International Airport was built with gusting winds as part of its plan.
And after nearly 15 years of operation, there's only been this one accident which pilots and aviation experts say proves it's very safe.
