US Airways Dividend Miles - Flight cancelled because plane sank into asphalt

Posted on Reddit:

http://i.imgur.com/Ir3wJ.jpg

It was so hot in DCA today that this plane sunk 4 inches into the pavement!

"They spent over an hour trying to get it out with the tug-truck, before they deplaned us. Still didn't work. Then they off-loaded luggage to try to make it even lighter and blasted the engines to try to get it out. After two hours, they gave up and cancelled the flight."

seeing as how it was a Devil's Chariot I am not surprised it was trying to go home... even if it was sinking its way to get there.

I am surprised that the tug couldn't get it, and even more so that the engines weren't able to get it out.

seeing as how it was a Devil's Chariot I am not surprised it was trying to go home... even if it was sinking its way to get there.

I am surprised that the tug couldn't get it, and even more so that the engines weren't able to get it out.

+1 me too! I heard about this on the local news and wondered why it wasn't able to move. Maybe there was a concern about the tires themselves?

+1 me too! I heard about this on the local news and wondered why it wasn't able to move. Maybe there was a concern about the tires themselves?
I'm sure those big ol' Jet Engines would pop it out of a 4" hole no problem
I'd guess the concern was the fact that there was a Big ol' Airport 50 ft in front of the aircraft! ??? RT

I'm sure those big ol' Jet Engines would pop it out of a 4" hole no problem
I'd guess the concern was the fact that there was a Big ol' Airport 50 ft in front of the aircraft! ??? RT

Maybe you fly into airports without any infrastructure? Generally you have a tug that pushes back....just curious how they handled the situation

Maybe you fly into airports without any infrastructure? Generally you have a tug that pushes back....just curious how they handled the situation
According to the Washington Post, they brought in a bigger tug and successfully pushed it out and got it on it's way.

WP Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/plane-gets-stuck-at-reagan-national/2012/07/08/gJQAZgG9UW_story.html)

I'm sure those big ol' Jet Engines would pop it out of a 4" hole no problem
I'd guess the concern was the fact that there was a Big ol' Airport 50 ft in front of the aircraft! ??? RT

the CRJs are at out stands at DCA. Depending on where it was there would've been adequate time to stop the plane after it popped loose.

According to the Washington Post, they brought in a bigger tug and successfully pushed it out and got it on it's way.

WP Story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/plane-gets-stuck-at-reagan-national/2012/07/08/gJQAZgG9UW_story.html)


Just curious! If there were missed connections due to the delay would it be classified as "Weather" or Maintenance?

Just curious! If there were missed connections due to the delay would it be classified as "Weather" or Maintenance?

Hahahaha...funny but good question. I'd say weather. Really had nothing to do with the maintenance of the aircraft.

Seems proper protocol would be to require passengers to put on the life vests and attendents to toss out the rafts because the plane was sinking fast! How many planes do they loose in the Sea of Runways each year?


Hahahaha...funny but good question. I'd say weather. Really had nothing to do with the maintenance of the aircraft.

I saw this posted on Facebook, but I didn't know where it had happened.

Had this stretch of pavement recently been re-done, or was it due to get done, or was there some issue with it?

Obviously it gets rather warm at PHX, and I don't recall this ever happening. I do know that when the temp exceeded (I think) 118 they had to halt traffic for a few hours.

Had this stretch of pavement recently been re-done, or was it due to get done, or was there some issue with it?

Probably none of the above. Pay attention the next time you're taxiing to take off on 36 and notice the bumps on the parallel taxiway, especially on the north side of runway 4/22. They're from airplanes sitting there in the summer.

Obviously it gets rather warm at PHX, and I don't recall this ever happening. I do know that when the temp exceeded (I think) 118 they had to halt traffic for a few hours.

I wouldn't be surprised that the 118 temperature delay was due to lack of performance numbers for that high a temperature.

Jim

Obviously it gets rather warm at PHX, and I don't recall this ever happening. I do know that when the temp exceeded (I think) 118 they had to halt traffic for a few hours.

You're talking about the day it hit 122 in Phoenix. Performance data didn't exist for temperatures that high, so they had to wait for it to come from the manufacturers. Some aircraft (the 737-200, IIRC) couldn't operate until it "cooled" off slightly, since the temperature was higher than the maximum operating temperature Boeing stated.

You're talking about the day it hit 122 in Phoenix. Performance data didn't exist for temperatures that high, so they had to wait for it to come from the manufacturers. Some aircraft (the 737-200, IIRC) couldn't operate until it "cooled" off slightly, since the temperature was higher than the maximum operating temperature Boeing stated.

I was in PHX that day (albeit I was something like 10 years old....remember it clearly though). I believe the old take-off-length curves only went up to 120 degrees, so they couldn't actually calculate (quickly) the length of roll needed to lift a plane. Probably a good idea not to "wing it."

And I learned this is a college civil engineering course, so that makes me qualified :D

This is a great tale! I love stories. However, in those kind of temperatures, I am sure sitting in the plane was pretty miserable. How did they announce that on the overhead speaker....uh, folks, the airplane is stuck, we can't take off right now? Think of how much jet fuel they wasted trying to dislodge.

I'm sure those big ol' Jet Engines would pop it out of a 4" hole no problem
I'd guess the concern was the fact that there was a Big ol' Airport 50 ft in front of the aircraft! ??? RT

I'm fairly certain they would have used the reverse thrust feature for this manuver.

I saw this posted on Facebook, but I didn't know where it had happened.

Had this stretch of pavement recently been re-done, or was it due to get done, or was there some issue with it?

Obviously it gets rather warm at PHX, and I don't recall this ever happening. I do know that when the temp exceeded (I think) 118 they had to halt traffic for a few hours.

My guess is that the pad in PHX is concrete, rather than asphalt. As I understand it, it's more expensive, but isn't prone to soften in the heat like asphalt is.

I was in PHX that day (albeit I was something like 10 years old....remember it clearly though). I believe the old take-off-length curves only went up to 120 degrees, so they couldn't actually calculate (quickly) the length of roll needed to lift a plane. Probably a good idea not to "wing it."

And I learned this is a college civil engineering course, so that makes me qualified :D

As a statistician, you learn to NEVER extrapolate outside the range of known data. Or, if you do, it's at your own peril -- see the analysis of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Some of the taxiways are asphalt though. Arizona actually uses a high-temperature mix of asphalt, which is why all the streets in Phoenix don't melt during the summer. I believe the tradeoff is that it's less water resistant, and more prone to potholing if subjected to water for a long period of time.

Posted on Reddit:

http://i.imgur.com/Ir3wJ.jpg

It was so hot in DCA today that this plane sunk 4 inches into the pavement!

"They spent over an hour trying to get it out with the tug-truck, before they deplaned us. Still didn't work. Then they off-loaded luggage to try to make it even lighter and blasted the engines to try to get it out. After two hours, they gave up and cancelled the flight."
A few years ago I got rerouted away from PHL because the airport was closed due to a large pothole on the runway