Continental 737 Off Runway at DEN
 

Reports just coming in about a Continental Airlines 737 flight 1404 off the runway at DEN during takeoff this eveninig. About 140 on board, about 36 injuries, no fatalities, all evacuated. Conditions cold, but dry.

737-500 - En route to IAH it seems. Any further news?

Follow-up comments from a report:

Garrod says after the aircraft was evacuated, the fire spread inside the aircraft, and crews had to go inside to extinguish it.

One of passengers, Maria Trejos, tells 9NEWS the plane was trying to take off, got into the air for a few seconds and then slammed back down into the ground into a ravine off the runway. At that point there was some sort of explosion on the right side of the plane and she saw a big ball of flames.

She says the plane then skidded to a halt after it went off the runway. Passengers were then evacuated to emergency exits and also the slides

Source: FAA: Plane goes off Denver runway, catches fire - USATODAY.com

USA today quoting FAA (uncomfirmed) 7 injured during evacuation.

Continental Airlines Statement Regarding Flight 1404
HOUSTON, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) tonight confirmed that flight 1404, a Boeing 737-500 aircraft carrying 107 customers and five crew members, exited the runway at Denver International Airport following a scheduled 6 p.m. MST departure to Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. Continental and Denver International Airport are providing assistance to the passengers at this time. A number of injuries have been reported and authorities are transporting passengers and crew to area medical facilities as necessary.

The company is in the process of collecting additional information and will communicate additional information once it is known.

SOURCE Continental Airlines

BBC NEWS | Americas | Injuries as US jet leaves runway

So, why? Why no takeoff? Weather?

Sleet, snow etc.

I just wish the proper authorities would stop building runways alongside ravines.

I really wish a/c manufacturers would stop building airplanes that catch fire.

No wait, what I really wish is for people to stop getting hit by busses crossing the street.
:mad:

From the San Diego Union Tribune

"Emily Pellegrini, a 21-year-old student at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, was on her way to Houston to see her parents. She left her cell phone and all her personal items behind in the rush to get off the plane.

"There was a fire after the crash, and I just went with the flow off the plane," she told The Denver Post. "That seemed like the thing to do." "

Are they suggesting that people did stop to grab personal belongings? Maybe Emily actually LISTENED to the safety briefing and did the right thing.

MORAL: listen and watch the CC when they do the safety briefing. It could save your life...

Airframe identified
 

The aircraft involved was B737-524 ship number 611.

Reg - N18611
First flight 31st May 1994
First registered 14th June 1994
MSN - 27324
LN- 2621

News continues to dribble in. Apparently pretty serious:

"The blaze went on to cause significant fire damage inside the cabin with overhead luggage compartments melting and dripping onto the seats."

"Debris remained on the runway, with the plane about 200 yards away and its landing gear shorn off, Hynes said. The plane's left engine was also shorn off, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said."

"The plane veered off course about 2,000 feet from the end of the runway and did not appear to be airborne, said Kim Day, manager of aviation for Denver International Airport." Many other reports that the aircraft had begun to rotate. Of note is the fact that the runway in use was 34R and 12,000 feet long.

METAR
 

METAR around time of the accident (18:18 LT / 01:18 UTC); winds tend to pick up with gusty conditions.

KDEN 210053Z 28011KT 10SM FEW040 SCT100 M06/M16 A2997 RMK AO2 PK WND 29027/0000 SLP202 T10561161

KDEN 210134Z 29024G32KT 10SM FEW040 SCT100 M04/M18 A2998 RMK AO2 PK WND 28036/0123

KDEN 210153Z 30018G28KT 10SM FEW040 SCT100 M05/M17 A3000 RMK AO2 PK WND 28036/0123 SLP202 T10501172

KDEN 210253Z 29018KT 10SM FEW040 BKN100 M05/M18 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP205 T10501178 51027

Hope this one doesn't have shades of Spanair.
De-iced therefore didn't put flaps down at normal point.
Missed it on check-list
Oh & the TOWS would have to be U/S . . wouldn't it ? ?:ooh:

Shhhh... don't even think it. The other scenario is abort after Vr. We'll see...

************************************************************

NTSB SENDS GO TEAM TO DENVER TO
INVESTIGATE 737 TAKEOFF ACCIDENT

************************************************************

The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a Go Team to Denver, Colorado to investigate the crash of an airliner on takeoff last night.

At 6:18 p.m., Mountain Standard Time, Continental Airlines flight 1404, a Boeing 737-500 (N18611), suffered an accident while on its takeoff roll for a scheduled flight to Houston, Texas. Although there have been injuries, no fatalities have been reported. Regional NTSB investigators were on the scene of the accident within hours.

NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator Bill English is the Investigator-in-Charge for the team of approximately a dozen investigators. NTSB Member Robert Sumwalt is accompanying the team and will serve as principal spokesman for the on-scene investigation. Terry Williams is the team's press officer.

The Go Team is expected to arrive in Denver later this morning. At that time, Mr. Williams may be reached on his
cell phone at 202-557-1350.

My thoughts as ever at this difficult time are with the insurers. Happily my Lloyds syndicate doesn't handle aviation.

Here is the go to to a slideshow of the aircraft. Note the left engine lying ahead of the wing. Flaps clearly deployed.


9NEWS.com | Colorado's Online News Leader | 9Slideshows Gallery | Continental1404

reasonably good posting here. Journalism, obviously, but at least they quote an Ex-NTSB guy saying that just because passengers say that the plane was in flight doesn't make it so. Injuries mainly because a chute did not go all the way to the ground (no reason why that's the case but I am sure that will come out)

Personally, I am impressed with both the evacuation and the emergency crews/firefighters. If all is true, this gives me comfort that crews and large airports are well prepared for bad events.

Well done all for the evacuation

Longtimer
One potentialy very embarrasing cause discounted at least.

of course it still isnt known when the flaps were deployed...i hope it was long before the evac