# Small Plane Crashes at Big Airport, No One Notices **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 30, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660 "2013-10-30T16:17:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/1 "2013-10-30T16:17:25Z")
Story [here](http://us.cnn.com/2013/10/29/us/plane-crash-mystery/index.html?hpt=us_c2). It was a foggy night at Nashville Airport, and when it lifted Tuesday morning, it was discovered … a small plane had crashed and burned near a runway! The sole occupant, the pilot, was dead. All they know is it occurred sometime after 3am. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/2 "2013-10-30T16:27:11Z")
WTF??? How did no1 notice a fire on the runway? Other pilots, the controllers, ground personnel, passengers on other aircraft… no1 noticed? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/3 "2013-10-30T16:30:35Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > WTF??? How did no1 notice a fire on the runway? Other pilots, the controllers, ground personnel, passengers on other aircraft… no1 noticed? OP said it was foggy. The tule fog we get here can drop visibility to a few yards. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/4 "2013-10-30T16:35:33Z")
> [@Babyeater Bohemoth](#): > > WTF??? How did no1 notice a fire on the runway? Other pilots, the controllers, ground personnel, passengers on other aircraft… no1 noticed? Typing “no one” would only require three extra taps on the keyboard, you know. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/5 "2013-10-30T16:45:04Z")
It was 3 AM, and the pilot apparently did not use the radio. At that time, there may have been only 1 controller in the tower anyway, and it’s not unknown for them to fall asleep. Who else would there have been to notice? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/6 "2013-10-30T17:30:45Z")
It was a flying club plane. I wonder if the pilot legitimately had possession. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/7 "2013-10-30T17:48:07Z")
> [@](#): > > The airport’s control tower is staffed 24 hours a day, the Federal Aviation Administration told CNN. But **it was not immediately clear** how many controllers were in the tower during the overnight shift. Really? Because that is the sort of thing that is pretty important, and easy to find out in most overnight jobs. Seems like a huge international airport would sort of know that sort of information. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/8 "2013-10-30T18:44:18Z")
> [@Bob Spooka](#): > > Typing “no one” would only require three extra taps on the keyboard, you know. If you have a problem with someone, take it to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/9 "2013-10-30T19:57:03Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Seems like a huge international airport would sort of know that sort of information. BNA is not that huge, and only barely international either. But yes, the management obviously knows who was on duty, and they certainly have PATCA involved along with the Airport Authority and the FAA and the NTSB. The facts will emerge, but slowly. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/10 "2013-10-30T19:57:47Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Really? Because that is the sort of thing that is pretty important, and easy to find out in most overnight jobs. Seems like a huge international airport would sort of know that sort of information. But might not be willing or allowed to release it to someone calling and claiming to be with a news agency. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/11 "2013-10-30T20:36:09Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > But might not be willing or allowed to release it to someone calling and claiming to be with a news agency. Ow! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/12 "2013-10-30T22:09:15Z")
> [@Twicking Dead](#): > > If you have a problem with someone, take it to the Pit. The SD is cracking down on being pedantic now? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/13 "2013-10-30T23:29:56Z")
Well, one guy probably noticed. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/14 "2013-10-31T01:01:39Z")
Well, to put it in perspective, they’ve had big planes crash and the tower wasn’t aware of it right away because of fog. In 1977 there was a crash on the Spanish island of Tenerife. You think it’s hard to miss a small plane on fire? What about two 747’s that collided and are both on fire? The tower wasn’t aware of the accident until an incoming plane saw smoke and something glowing on the runway and contacted the tower about it on the radio. The firetrucks and ambulances went to the closest plane and found everyone dead, and didn’t see the second plane further down the runway. It took them 20 minutes to realize that there was a second crash site. It was the deadliest accident in aviation history (583 fatalities). > **[Tenerife airport disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_airport_disaster)** > > The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, when two Boeing 747 passenger jets collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport (now Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The collision occurred when KLM Flight 4805 initiated its takeoff run while Pan Am Flight 1736 was still on the runway. The impact and resulting fire killed everyone on board KLM 4805 and most of the occupants of Pan Am 1736, with only 61 survivors in the front section of the aircraft. A bomb s... ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/15 "2013-10-31T01:13:24Z")
If only they could equip planes with computers that communicated with the tower, so if something goes wrong, the tower would know about it. Like, if the plane crashes or the electrical system goes dead, the tower would see that the plane was in trouble. Maybe someday we will have such devices. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/16 "2013-10-31T01:15:52Z")
> [@Bob Spooka](#): > > Typing “no one” would only require three extra taps on the keyboard, you know. nm ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/17 "2013-10-31T01:59:51Z")
It was ridiculously foggy that morning. There were places on the freeway as late as seven o’clock that were down to a crawl. According to local news, he was way out of the area he had originally planned to fly. At the time of the crash, there had been no radio contact and visibility was almost nil. It was reported by other pilots. The tower had no clue. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/18 "2013-10-31T03:10:16Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Well, one guy probably noticed. But nor for long! > [@missred](#): > > It was ridiculously foggy that morning. There were places on the freeway as late as seven o’clock that were down to a crawl. > > According to local news, he was way out of the area he had originally planned to fly. At the time of the crash, there had been no radio contact and visibility was almost nil. It was reported by other pilots. The tower had no clue. Still, you’d think someone would have heard it if not actually seen the explosion through the fog. How far away from the tower or terminal was that? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/19 "2013-10-31T03:51:23Z")
> [@Satan's Spawn](#): > > Still, you’d think someone would have heard it if not actually seen the explosion through the fog. How far away from the tower or terminal was that? A plane that small? No chance, really. They don’t explode in an earth-shattering kaboom, and towers are pretty well insulated from the constant drone of airport traffic. I was looking at redeyes into Nashville and they may not have any regular flights that late. The tower would probably still be manned, but they were unlikely to be looking for random unannounced private flights. Given that we’re talking about a small plane which may have been invisible to radar anyway, yeah, it’s not at all improbable that nobody at the airport could have spotted it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660/20 "2013-10-31T03:59:46Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > If only they could equip planes with computers that communicated with the tower, so if something goes wrong, the tower would know about it. > > Like, if the plane crashes or the electrical system goes dead, the tower would see that the plane was in trouble. Maybe someday we will have such devices. Or maybe a little orange box about the size of a walkie-talkie that has an inertial switch that sets it off on impact and transmits an alarm on 121.5 MHz. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-plane-crashes-at-big-airport-no-one-notices/672660.md?page=2)