On the morning of August 27, 2006, Comair Flight 5191, a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Lexington, Kentucky, to Atlanta, Georgia, met a tragic end. The Bombardier CRJ100 aircraft crashed shortly after attempting to take off from Blue Grass Airport in Fayette County, Kentucky. This devastating event, which occurred around 6:07 AM EDT, resulted in the deaths of 49 of the 50 people on board, making it the second-deadliest accident involving
the CRJ100/200 aircraft type at that time. The core issue identified was the aircraft's use of an incorrect runway for takeoff, a critical error with catastrophic consequences.
The Fateful Error: Runway Confusion
The aircraft, operating as Delta Connection Flight 5191, was cleared for takeoff from Runway 22, a 7,003-foot (2,135 m) runway typically used by most airline traffic at Lexington. However, after confirming this clearance, Captain Jeffrey Clay, who had primary responsibility for taxiing, instead guided the aircraft onto Runway 26. This runway was significantly shorter, measuring only 3,501 feet (1,067 m) long, and was unlit and unauthorized for commercial use. The discrepancy between the assigned and actual runway proved to be a fatal misjudgment.
As the aircraft taxied, the first officer, James Polehinke, who was the pilot flying for takeoff, remarked on the lack of lighting on Runway 26, stating, "That is weird with no lights." Captain Clay agreed with this observation. Despite this clear indication of an anomaly, the flight data recorder showed no attempt by either pilot to abort the takeoff as the aircraft accelerated. The manufacturer's calculations indicated that for the estimated takeoff weight of 49,087 pounds (22,265 kg), a speed of 138 knots (159 mph; 256 km/h) and a distance of 3,744 feet (1,141 m) would have been needed for rotation, with even more runway required for liftoff.
The Crash Sequence and Immediate Aftermath
With the aircraft accelerating to 137 knots (158 mph; 254 km/h), Captain Clay called for rotation. However, the Bombardier CRJ100 reached the end of the much shorter Runway 26 before it could become airborne. The aircraft then struck a low earthen wall adjacent to a ditch, briefly lifting off the ground. It subsequently clipped the airport perimeter fence with its landing gear and crashed into trees, which caused the fuselage and flight deck to separate from the tail section.
The aircraft ultimately crashed about 1,800 feet (550 m) from the end of the runway and was completely destroyed in the ensuing fire. Forty-nine of the fifty occupants perished in the accident, including all 47 passengers and two of the three crew members. The victims suffered from thermal injuries, smoke inhalation, and traumatic injuries from the impact and subsequent fire. The passenger manifest, released on August 29, 2006, revealed that most passengers were American citizens from the Lexington area, ranging in age from 16 to 72, including a newly married couple on their honeymoon.
The Sole Survivor and His Injuries
First Officer James Polehinke was the sole survivor of Comair Flight 5191. He sustained severe injuries, including multiple broken bones, a collapsed lung, and significant bleeding. Lexington-Fayette and airport police officers were able to extract him from the wreckage. Polehinke underwent surgery for his injuries, which included the amputation of his left leg. Doctors later determined that he had suffered brain damage and had no memory of the crash itself or the events leading up to it. His survival provided a critical, albeit limited, perspective for the subsequent investigation into the causes of this devastating aviation disaster.
