Flight Data Recorder found

September 13, 2001 2:22 PM

Flight Data Recorder found for United Airlines flight 93 in Pennsylvania. They've also found the signal for at least one of the data recorders on the Pentagon flight, as well. Assuming it's still readable, the flight recorder for UA 93 could give new insight into why the plane went down, and why they're now finding debris 6 miles from the crash site. (The information for flight 93 came from CNN broadcast, but hasn't made it online yet.)
posted by elfgirl (13 comments total)

NTSB/FBI briefing said all material found at distance to PA crash scene were light and blowable, probably drifting from the crash scene after the impact. Wind was to the SouthEast at the time of the crash, also in line with the debris drifting from the crash site.

Additionally, the opening of a door on the aircaft during the descent could also explain debris far away from the actual impact site.
posted by dewelch at 2:41 PM on September 13, 2001

Did they specify it as the telemetry or the actual voice recorder? I ask because...well...we're pretty sure why the plane crashed, right? Instruments will show sharp turns, altitude changes and dives.

The voice recorder should tell what happened, though.
posted by TeamBilly at 2:49 PM on September 13, 2001

interestingly, the article posted here claims that the report of the five firefighters found in the SUV earlier is actually untrue.
posted by moz at 2:53 PM on September 13, 2001

A question for Mathowie - I saw this a while ago and wanted to post a link, but given the speed at which news is breaking, couldn't find one. Given the circumstances, is it reasonable for people to breach protocol and post information-only?
posted by Sinner at 2:55 PM on September 13, 2001

Sinner -- try the etiquette board in metatalk.
posted by daver at 2:58 PM on September 13, 2001

interestingly, the article posted here claims that the report of the five firefighters found in the SUV earlier is actually untrue

We've been discussing that startinghere
posted by anastasiav at 2:58 PM on September 13, 2001

i haven't heard of this source before, but the telegraph online is reporting ua93 was being being closely pursued by an f -16.

ultimately it doesn't matter if it was the passengers overpowering the terrorists, a bomb, or if the f-16 harrassed ua93 into losing control, or shot it down. but i want to know what happened.
posted by lescour at 2:58 PM on September 13, 2001

"The flight data recorder is being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington. Investigators at the site are still searching for the voice data recorder, said FBI spokesman Bill Crowley.

In Washington, signals are being picked up from a flight data recorder from American Airlines Flight 77 which crashed into the Pentagon, according to one of the search and rescue leaders. "

-- CNN.com
posted by kathryn at 3:04 PM on September 13, 2001

i thought the f-16 shooting the plane was a rumour. in any case, the flight recorder (is that the same as the cockpit voice recorder?) should tell.
posted by kliuless at 3:05 PM on September 13, 2001

oh, thanks kathryn
posted by kliuless at 3:06 PM on September 13, 2001

The info for Flight 93 is actually on CCN.com now, however it's on the front page and not the "Developing Story" page linked above.

Did they specify it as the telemetry or the actual voice recorder? I ask because...well...we're pretty sure why the plane crashed, right? Instruments will show sharp turns, altitude changes and dives.

It's the data, not voice recorder so it will show the instrumentation. However, they're not sure why the plane crashed. The recorder could give some concrete evidence as to whether it was the hijackers or the passengers that eventually crashed the plane (since there has been some speculation that it was the former).

is it reasonable for people to breach protocol and post information-only?

Mea Culpa. I was fairly sure that it would be up on CNN.com by time I finished posting, but put the caveat up there to be sure. I didn't realize there was a competition going on for information and links......
posted by elfgirl at 3:08 PM on September 13, 2001

this should be on metatalk, i know, but

a: daver: i should have gone to metatalk, but i can barely make it through all the MeFi stuff right now, and I doubt many people are reading both. I wanted to get an answer that more people could see. You're still right, though.

b: elfgirl: no need for a mea culpa - you spurred me to ask a question which I'm sure a lot of people are wondering about and which I'm sure is already being discussed in metatalk (where I'll go, following this post).
posted by Sinner at 3:32 PM on September 13, 2001

i believe the flight data recorder COULD show whether or not the plane was shot down. recorded deliberate control movements meant to ground the plane will either show up or not.
posted by mich9139 at 9:35 PM on September 13, 2001