Pilot's chilling final words before plane erupted in fireball just after take-off
A Delta Air Lines flight schedueld to depart from Dallas, Texas and land in Salt Lake City, Utah, didn't make it, bursting into flames in a mere 22 seconds following take off.
A plane carrying 108 passengers crashed moments after take-off, resulting in a horrific accident that claimed the lives of 14 people and injured 76 others.
The pilot's final words, captured on the cockpit recording, were absolutely bone-chilling.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 was set to fly from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah on August 31, 1988, reports the Mirror UK.
Just seconds after take-off, the aircraft began rolling with the right wing dipping downwards, leading to the tail and then the wingtip striking the runway.
The right wing smashed into the ILS localizer antenna and erupted into flames.
After staying airborne for an additional 394 feet, the aircraft slammed into the ground and skidded sideways before being consumed by fire.
The plane was only in the air for a mere 22 seconds.
The cockpit recording, as documented in the National Transportation Safety Board's aircraft accident report, captured the conversation between the captain and co-pilot.
Just before the catastrophe, the co-pilot can be heard yelling "engine failure."
The plane was engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds
The crew member then stated "we got an engine failure," followed by "we're not gonna make it."
However, the pilot simply replied with "full power" - his last words before the plane went down.
The tape transcription then records the "sound of first impact," followed by the second, third, and fourth impact, with only a "sound of scream" in between.
Eyewitnesses reported that as the aircraft barreled down the runway, its wings were clearly swaying from side to side and the plane "appeared to be out of control."
14 people were killed
The aircraft then disappeared from view after it crashed and "vanished into a cloud of dust."
Captain Larry Lon Davis was recognized as a highly seasoned pilot, with approximately 17,000 flying hours to his credit, many of which were in the same type of aircraft.
All but one of the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.
One passenger managed to flee the wreckage, but tragically perished 11 days later from severe burns he suffered when he tried to go back to the blazing aircraft to rescue his wife and other passengers.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the probable cause of the crash was partly due to the "Captain and First Officer's inadequate cockpit discipline which resulted in the flightcrew's attempt to takeoff without the wing flaps and slats properly configured."
76 people survived
Before the flight, the two pilots were overheard discussing birds.
The report also emphasized the "failure of the takeoff configuration warning system to alert the crew the airplane was not properly configured for the takeoff."
Delta's "slow implementation of necessary modifications to its operating procedures, manuals, checklists, training, and crew checking programs" also contributed to the accident."
Additionally, "the lack of sufficiently aggressive action by the FAA to have known deficiencies corrected by Delta and the lack of sufficient accountability within the FAA's air carrier inspection process" played a role.