ValuJet Flight 592 facts for kids
N904VJ, the accident aircraft, seen here at Washington Dulles International Airport in May 1995
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 11, 1996 |
| Summary | In-flight cargo fire leading to loss of control |
| Place | Everglades, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States 25°54′47″N 80°34′41″W / 25.91306°N 80.57806°W |
| Passengers | 105 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 110 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 |
| Airline/user | ValuJet Airlines |
| Registration | N904VJ |
| Flew from | Miami International Airport Miami, Florida |
| Flying to | William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Int'l Airport, Atlanta, Georgia |
ValuJet Flight 592 was a passenger flight that took off from Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida. Its destination was Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. On May 11, 1996, the plane crashed into the Everglades in Florida. All 110 people on board, including 105 passengers and 5 crew members, died in the accident. The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, which had been used by Delta Air Lines before ValuJet.
Contents
What Happened to Flight 592?
The crash of ValuJet Flight 592 was caused by a fire that started in the cargo area of the plane. This area is usually called the forward cargo compartment. The fire began shortly after the plane took off from Miami.
The Plane and Its Journey
The aircraft involved was a DC-9, a type of plane often used for shorter flights. It was heading north from Miami to Atlanta. The flight was a routine trip for many passengers.
The Fire Starts
About ten minutes after taking off, the pilots heard a loud noise. Soon after, they noticed smoke in the cockpit. The smoke quickly filled the cabin, making it hard for passengers and crew to breathe. The fire was burning in the cargo hold, where oxygen generators were stored. These generators were old and had not been stored safely.
The Emergency
The pilots tried to return to Miami for an emergency landing. However, the fire was spreading very fast. It damaged the plane's control systems. This made it impossible for the pilots to control the aircraft. The plane lost power and crashed into the Everglades.
The Investigation
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked into the crash. They found that the fire started because of chemical oxygen generators. These generators create oxygen when activated. They were being carried as cargo, but they were not properly packaged. They also did not have safety caps.
Why the Fire Spread
The oxygen generators were placed in boxes with airplane tires. This made the fire worse. The heat from the generators caused the tires to catch fire. The cargo area also had a fire suppression system, but it was designed to put out fires in luggage, not chemical fires. It could not stop the intense blaze.
Lessons Learned
The ValuJet Flight 592 crash led to many changes in airline safety. Airlines now have stricter rules for carrying dangerous goods. There are also better fire detection and suppression systems in cargo areas. This accident showed how important it is to follow safety rules very carefully. It helped make air travel safer for everyone.
Images for kids
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Looking across the memorial eastward
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Everglades memorial
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 592 de ValuJet para niños
