Comair Flight 5191 The Wrong Runway

October 18, 2023 Mike Bennett

I’ve long been a junky of aviation safety videos and content. I’ve watched just about every air crash documentary and have pored thru my share of Kathryn’s Reports, NTSB reports, CVR transcripts, etc. All in the hopes that I will recognize what led up to these tragic events, so that hopefully, I’ll avoid the same mistakes.

Comair Flight 5191 strikes a special note with me as I can see just about anyone making this mistake. It was a small oversight with severer consequences. My heart goes out to the families of the soles lost and the loan survivor First Officer Jim Polehinke.

Tips to avoid this:

Before I get started on my Monday morning quarterback “here is the list of things I do” BS. Let me be clear, mistakes happen, it is our job to build protections around the mistakes so they don’t get us killed.

Brief your taxi. Know where you are going and communicate it to the crew (even your imagery friend sitting next to you.) Say it, this actually works.
Trust but verify… Cross check and verify before departing.
- Set your heading bug to the assigned runway.
- Lights, Camera, Action!
- 23 23 you’ll hear that in some of my old videos on YouTube. This was from an airline pilot buddy of mine (Heading ~230 Runway 23.)
- Look for runway signs.
If it doesn’t look right, abort!