After weeks of investigation into the crash of Solaris Flight 238 the NTSB board finds that pilot error was the primary contributing factor. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300, departed out of Toronto (CYYZ) for a scheduled route to Las Vegas (KLAS). The flight proceeded normally until it was approaching the Las Vegas area. At the time the pilots reported a fuel starvation problem was occurring and declared an emergency. A few minutes later the number one engine failed followed quickly by the number two. The aircraft was unable to deploy its APU for backup power and the aircraft lost most of its electrical and hydraulic power. The aircraft began a steep dive over the Grand Canyon but was still under partial control as it came down. The crew turned the plane sharply to the North to avoid a mountain ridge but in doing so knife-edged the plane which made it descend even quicker into the valley. The aircraft impacted the ground just north of Interstate 15 outside the town of Mesquite at over 3000 feet per minute doing more than 300 knots. The aircraft disintegrated on impact killed everyone on board and destroying the airframe and all cargo on board. Total payout for damages and compensation for families was $48,373,582. The aircraft was written off and insurance claimed to replace the lost airframe. Below is the Blackbox data record and a transcript of the voice cockpit recorder.
The final findings is that the crew did not verify needed fuel prior to pushback nor did they take the weather into account which contributed to extra fuel burn that went undetected. The pilots are also at fault for not noticing the problem earlier in the flight and diverting before the aircraft was in an emergency situation.
PF: Hang on a second… what the hell?
PM: What is it?
PF: I am not believing what I am seeing… we’re out of fuel.
PM: What? No, that has to be a mistake. Our fuel checked out, our numbers were good.
PF: We only have 500 lbs left! Oh God…
PM: Shit…
PF: Call it in…
PM: SoCal Center, Solaris 238, declaring an emergency! We are out of fuel! Need vectors to nearest airport that can accommodate our aircraft.
PF: Ladies and gentlemen, from the flight deck, we are having to divert due to a fuel emergency. Cabin crew prepare the cabin.
PM: You think its a leak?
PF: I don’t know. We had a strong head wind but we should have enough to account for it. I don’t know what the hell.
(Sound of engine roll back)
PM: Engine one rolling back. Its starved. There goes two!
PF: Not happening… not happening…
PM: SoCal center, Solaris 238 Emergency, we’ve lost both engines to fuel starvation…
PF: We’re losing power…
PM: There’s nothing down here but the highway… that’s not possible for us…
PF: Shit… its a flying brick. Help me out here!
PM: Mountain…! Right!
PF: Damn it! Not good!
PM: No options here… open field there…
PF: Yeah, that’s it… that’s it….