BUFFALO PLANE CRASH TRANSCRIPT

Transcripts from the cockpit voice recorder in the last seven minutes before Flight 3407 crashed Feb. 13 near Buffalo, N.Y.:

22:10:32 _ First Officer Rebecca Shaw: Oh yeah, oh it's lots of ice.

22:10:47 _ Captain Marvin Renslow: "Oh yeah, that's the most I've seen, most ice I've seen on the leading edges in a long time. In a while, anyway, I should say.

22:10:57 _ Shaw: Flying in the Northeast, I've 1,600 hours. ... I had more actual time on my first day of IOE (initial operating experience) than I did in the 1,600 hours I had when I came here.

22:11:31 _ Renslow: But, uh, as a matter of fact I got hired with about 625 hours here.

22:11:37 _ Shaw: Oh wow.

22:11:39 _ Shaw: That's not much for, uh, back when you got hired.

22:11:42 _ Renslow: No but, uh, out of that ... 250 hours was, uh, part 121 turbine, multi-engine turbine.

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22:11:50 _ Shaw: Oh that's right yeah.

22:11:54 _ Shaw: No, but all these guys are complaining, they're saying, you know, how we were supposed to upgrade by now and ... I'm thinking, you know what? I really wouldn't mind going through a winter in the Northeast before I have to upgrade to captain.

22:12:05 _ Shaw: I've never seen icing conditions. I've never deiced. ... I've never experienced any of that. I don't want to have to experience that and make those kinds of calls. You know I'd've freaked out. I'd have, like, seen this much ice and thought, oh my gosh we were going to crash.

22:13:58 _ Renslow: Oh yeah, I'm so glad. ... I mean, I would've been ... fine. I would have survived it. .. We never had to make decisions that I wouldn't have been able to make but ... now I'm more comfortable.

22:15:59 _ Cockpit area microphone (CAM): (sound similar to decrease in engine power)

22:16:04 _ Renslow: Gear down... loc's alive.

22:16:06 _ CAM (sound similar to landing gear handle movement)

22:16:06 _ Buffalo Approach controller (APP): Colgan thirty four zero seven contact tower one two zero point five. have a good night.

22:16:07 _ CAM (sound similar to landing gear deployment)

22:16:11 _ Shaw: Over to tower you do the same, 3407.

22:16:14 _ Flight Crew Audio Panel (HOT): (sound of two double chimes)

22:16:21 _ Shaw: Gear's down.

22:16:23 _ Renslow: flaps fifteen before landing checklist.

22:16:26 _ CAM (sound similar to flap handle movement)

22:16:26 _ Shaw: uhhh.

22:16:27 _ CAM (sound similar to stick shaker lasting 6.7 seconds)

22:16:27 _ HOT (sound similar to autopilot disconnect horn repeats until end of recording)

22:16:27 _ CAM (sound of click)

22:16:31 _ CAM (sound similar to increase in engine power)

22:16:34 _ Renslow: Jesus Christ.

22:16:35 _ CAM (sound similar to stick shaker lasting until end of recording)

22:16:37 _ Shaw: I put the flaps up.

22:16:40 _ CAM (sound of two clicks)

22:16:42 _ Renslow: (sound of grunt) (unintelligible) -ther bear.

22:16:45 _ Shaw: should the gear up?

22:16:46 _ Renslow: gear up oh (expletive).

22:16:50 _ CAM (increase in ambient noise)

22:16:51.9 _ Renslow: we're down.

22:16:51.9 _ CAM (sound of thump)

22:16:52.0 _ Shaw: we're (sound of scream)

Comments

[Ermo]

HuffPost's Pick

What ever happens to an aircraft is the Captains or aircraft commander’s responsibility. Maybe there is a chain of events which lead up to the accident but it is the Captains responsibility to make sure that his aircraft does not crash. The world of aviation is unforgiving and does not make allowances for excuses. After flying in combat and aboard aircraft carriers for years I never let management or nature put me in a box. Go to another airport, go around, or add speed to keep you aircraft from decelerating into a stall. Do not raise your flaps when you are entering a stall, push forward on the stick, Fly Your Airplane Daa...

There are a lot of Walter Mitty types who want to fly aircraft but not everyone has the aptitude. Money, family connections, affirmative action, or sympathy will not put a pilot in the cockpit with the ability to survive a full career.

Make all the excuses you can, but the profession has a black eye because of the aircrew actions leading up to this accident.

[Niasia]

Tthis was the company's fault not the pilots. If they knew they did not train these people enough why would they let them control an aircraft in icey conditions. This is what happens when you place ill trained or undertrained people at the helm. This is very unfortunate. I dont think the pilots should be villified. They are no longer here and pointing the blame won't bring the people back. The FAA should take this as a lesson to make airlines pay more and train more. This is like putiing a police officer out on the beat with improper or inufficient training.

[CornerofIA]

I grew up with Marvin Renslow in Shenandoah, Iowa and our families were very close friends. It is sad to see some comments made that rip the two pilots apart. No one truly knows what happened in the cockpit, even if you listen to the flight recorder. It is all speculation. The world wants to think the worst of everyone in every situation. It's a sad world we live in folks. It is sad that 50 people died. It is sad that there were not stricter rules in place by the airline. It is sad that the pilots could not land the plane be it their fault or not. It is sad that Marvin leaves behind a grieving mother, 3 siblings, wife and children. It was sad as I held his mother as she sobbed in my arms knowing he will join his dad in heaven. It is sad that the co-pilot leaves behind greiving family members as does everyone else killed in this flight, be it on the plane or on the ground. Every thing that happens in this world is a learning experience be it good or not. Lives are lost everyday. It isn't what I would prefer to happen, it just is what it is. So lets just forget the snide remarks and go on from here. Everyone is hurting that knew anyone in the accident. And if you didn't know anyone involved in the accident just consider yourself the lucky one, this time.