Reply #59: a multiengine jet on a high speed abort off the end of the runway [View All]

[av8rdave]

would likely have had similar results as what occurred. Again, the training is to continue when committed to high speed. Again, the assumption of all of this is that you're on the planned runway and you are capable of flight (a transport aircraft with an engine failed or tires failed is still capable of flight if the malfuntion occurs at high speed - assuming the correct runway). Our training is that a takeoff is NEVER aborted beyond V1 unless there is some reason it is incapable of flight (both engines failed or a structural/flight control problem).

The crew may have never been aware of the runway error. Once the takeoff roll starts, the focus is on the aircraft performance and directional control. Once V1 is reached (decision speed) the aircraft is committed to the "go" decision. V1 is the end of the decision process. V1 for runway 22 would have been easily reached even on the shorter, incorrect runway. Unfortunately, being the wrong runway, the crew would have had no acceptable choices at that speed.

Someone who has flown out of LEX may be able to clarify or correct me on this, but if memory serves, the long runway is somewhat "crowned," so that it appears to be much shorter than it is when you are at the start of the takeoff roll. (I may have this confused with another airport - there have been way too many of those over the years.) That could also lead the crew to not suspect a problem initially.