Aviance Flight 52

Avianca Flight 52 took flight from Bogota to New York on January 25, 1990 via Medellin. Due to the fog and wind conditions, many planes were being held in a holding pattern above JFK International Airport in order to prepare for a safer landing, including Flight 52. While in the holding pattern for over an hour, Flight 52 exhausted all of its fuel reserve that could have flown them to their alternate destination of Boston in case of an emergency. The pilots of Flight 52 knew they were low on fuel before entering the holding pattern but didn’t think they would be in the holding pattern very long because there were several planes in front of them that were given permission to land. However, due to the severe weather, wind shear and other factors Flight 52 was left in the air much longer than anticipated. Finally, after waiting patiently for their turn to land, Flight 52 ATC gave them permission to descend. ATC warned the pilots of wind shear at 1500 feet but at less than 500 feet the plane experienced wind shear. Because the plane experienced the wind shear at such a low altitude, the plane descended below the planned glideslope and almost crashed just short of the runway. In addition to almost crashing, the pilots had to abort the landing even though they knew they didn’t have enough fuel to try another attempt. ATC told the pilot to climb but the pilot responded by saying they were running out of fuel and moments later the number four engine of the plane went out and shortly after so did engine three. Now with both the main source of electrical power gone, the plane went dark and began to plunge into the night and eventually crashed into the small village of Cove Neck on Northern Long Island in Oyster Bay, 15 miles away from the airport in which Flight 52 was supposed to land. Upon crashing, the impact caused the plane to split in half, snapped off the cockpit, and killed 73 passengers and crew members while 85 people survived.

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