Thursday, November 05, 2009
NTSB determines probable causes of two 2008 crashes
Tire failure and inadequate bridge railing protection were the probable causes of a 2008 motorcoach crash in Sherman, TX, that killed 17 people and injured 39, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded on Oct. 27.
According to the report, 4.5 hours into a trip from Houston to Carthage, MO, the motorcoach's right steer axle tire failed as it approached the bridge at 68 mph. The 55-passenger motorcoach went through the bridge railing, fell 8 feet and slid approximately 24 feet before coming to rest.
NTSB said the tire failure due to an extended period of low-pressure operation resulted in separation within the tire and led to loss of vehicle control. A bridge railing also failed to prevent departure, the report said.
The agency also concluded the pilot of a Maryland State Police helicopter was responsible for a September 2008 crash that resulted in his death and the deaths of three others. NTSB found systematic problems with the state's emergency helicopter program. Maryland State Police responded that it "will continue to work every day to uphold the lifesaving tradition of the most successful and most respected police aviation and medevac program in the world."