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Cases › DCA09MA021 › Cockpit voice recorder

BOEING 737-524CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC

302 lines · 17:48:33 – 18:18:22 · Denver, CO, 2008-12-21

The NTSB cautions that a transcript is not a precise science and, taken out of context, can mislead. These are the last words of real people — handle with care.
302 of 302 lines
CaptainFirst officerControllersWarningsSounds
The final secondsjump to the end ↓

Crew communication

302 lines readobservations a human-factors reviewer takes from a transcript — the sterile cockpit, the Board's own notations, rhythm, CRM markers. Not emotions, not scores: the affect is in the audio, and the audio is sealed
51 / 38
floor share · CA / FO %
0%
non-pertinent talk in sterile window
0 · 1 · 2
laughter · delivery · expletives
9 of 44
crew questions unanswered in 8 s
—
warnings with a crew response in 5 s
CaptainCaptain: 3 in minute 1Captain: 3 in minute 3Captain: 1 in minute 4Captain: 9 in minute 5Captain: 5 in minute 6Captain: 7 in minute 7Captain: 16 in minute 8Captain: 1 in minute 9Captain: 4 in minute 10Captain: 3 in minute 11Captain: 3 in minute 12Captain: 4 in minute 13Captain: 10 in minute 14Captain: 14 in minute 15Captain: 5 in minute 16Captain: 4 in minute 17Captain: 5 in minute 18Captain: 2 in minute 19Captain: 11 in minute 20Captain: 3 in minute 21Captain: 2 in minute 22Captain: 4 in minute 23Captain: 1 in minute 24Captain: 5 in minute 25Captain: 5 in minute 26Captain: 8 in minute 27Captain: 3 in minute 29Captain: 6 in minute 30First officerFirst officer: 1 in minute 1First officer: 4 in minute 3First officer: 2 in minute 4First officer: 4 in minute 6First officer: 4 in minute 7First officer: 18 in minute 8First officer: 1 in minute 9First officer: 3 in minute 10First officer: 1 in minute 11First officer: 3 in minute 12First officer: 1 in minute 13First officer: 9 in minute 14First officer: 2 in minute 15First officer: 3 in minute 16First officer: 2 in minute 17First officer: 2 in minute 18First officer: 3 in minute 19First officer: 15 in minute 20First officer: 2 in minute 21First officer: 2 in minute 22First officer: 1 in minute 23First officer: 3 in minute 24First officer: 5 in minute 25First officer: 5 in minute 26First officer: 3 in minute 27First officer: 1 in minute 28First officer: 1 in minute 29First officer: 4 in minute 30ControllersControllers: 1 in minute 2917:4817:5317:5818:0318:0818:1318:18
Utterances per minute, one row per speaker on one clock. shaded = sterile-cockpit window · red = end of recording.
Sterile cockpit · 14 CFR 121.542

Window: 18:15:32–18:18:32 · basis: critical phases in the extracted recorder events (approximate). Candidate non-pertinent lines below are a first reading for the investigator, not a finding.

No candidate non-pertinent conversation inside the window.

The Board’s own notations

Delivery and physiological notes the transcribers added in brackets, plus # expletives. 20 words are marked unintelligible (*).

Silences of 45 s or more
Concerns voiced, and what followed

Hedged or questioning lines from one pilot in the critical window, with the other pilot’s next words.

  • 18:13:33“yeah how about this guard's on two ho ho ho 18:13:37 you wait for that guard to cut you out right”
    → 18:13:33“when you need to really hear something on your departure I like guard you know what the tower can hear 18:13:45 guard down here so if somebody's gunna talk”
  • 18:13:33“when you need to really hear something on your departure I like guard you know what the tower can hear 18:13:45 guard down here so if somebody's gunna talk”
    → 18:13:56“ah huh”
  • 18:16:47“looks like you got some wind out here”
    → 18:16:48“yeah”
Warnings and the response

No warning-system lines in the transcript.

Questions between the pilots left unanswered
  • 17:49:13“are they Newark-- goin to Lauderdale?”
  • 17:51:06“what gate are we going now?”
  • 17:54:10“fifty four hundred so let's call that ah *...does that sound about right?”
  • 17:55:52“excuse me mode control panel?”
  • 17:55:52“nine three inches and I have sixty three hundred feet set and checked?”
  • 18:00:59“dude?”
  • 18:03:52“what?”
  • 18:14:40“air conditioning and pressurization’s is set start switches are continuous auto throttles on flaps five set green light ?”
  • 18:15:58“did you want three forty four in there?”
Standard callouts
V1 · not in transcriptRotate / Vr · not in transcriptV2 · not in transcriptPositive rate · not in transcriptGear up · not in transcript1,000 ft · not in transcript500 ft · not in transcriptMinimums · not in transcriptGear down · not in transcriptRunway in sight · not in transcriptGo around · not in transcriptStabilized · not in transcript

“Not in transcript” never means “not said”: a line may be unintelligible, or the recording may not cover that phase.

Language, as counts
Speakerwordsquestionshedgesexclamationsexpletiveschecklistsnon-pertinent lines
Captain67910600011
First officer5103892403
Observer / jumpseat149500000

Read next to the Board’s coded human-factors findings on the case page. The NTSB cautions that a transcript is not a precise science; these are pointers into it, for a trained reader to weigh.

Hover a line to bookmark it or write a note against it — the note keeps the line’s time, speaker and words.

17:48:33CACAM-1cold front.p.7
17:48:37FOCAM-2its still seventy eight degrees there.p.7
17:48:43CACAM-1oh man thirty three *p.7
17:49:13CACAM-1are they Newark-- goin to Lauderdale?p.7
17:50:41CARDO-1do you know what runway for Plains departure?p.7
17:50:48CARDO-1thanks.p.7
17:50:52FOCAM-2three four right.p.7
17:50:55FOCAM-2it's already in there.p.7
17:50:59CACAM-1yeah baby. worked out nicely.p.8
17:51:06FOCAM-2what gate are we going now?p.8
17:51:09FOCAM-2Charlie thirty seven.p.8
17:52:05OBCAM-3hey you've got company.p.8
17:52:07CACAM-1dude what's happening what's your name?p.8
17:52:10CAMCAM-4*p.8
17:52:13CAMCAM-4I want to come drive up here.p.8
17:52:15FOCAM-2can I go sit in your seat you can sit right there.p.8
17:52:16CAMCAM-4okay.p.8
17:52:21CAMCAM-4yeah.p.9
17:52:21FOCAM-2and it's your leg you're gunna fly.p.9
17:52:25OBCAM-3he's with his mom.p.9
17:52:29CAMCAM-4mommy can I drive?p.9
17:52:31CAMCAM-5I don't mind be careful okay.p.9
17:52:33CACAM-1alright but that means I'm sittin’ in his seat.p.9
17:52:35CAMCAM-5alright it's nine B.p.9
17:52:38CACAM-1(( sound of laugh))p.9
17:52:43CAMCAM-4yes she does. you need to have a drivers license let me see CAM-1 your drivers license.p.10
17:52:46CAMCAM-4I don't have any.p.10
17:52:47CACAM-1well then you can't drive.p.10
17:52:56CACAM-1he'd had done it too.p.10
17:52:57CACAM-1he would have tried it anyways.p.10
17:53:02CACAM-1I was expecting his mother to save me.p.10
17:53:06CACAM-1no son you can't drive.p.10
17:53:20CACAM-1she's probably checkin’ you out on the way in.p.10
17:53:26◦CAM[sound of high low chime]p.10
17:53:29CACAM-1that's funny.p.10
17:53:33CACAM-1zero nine seven I guess.p.10
17:53:41CACAM-1all ready **.p.10
17:53:41CACAM-1MSA's ninety two hundred and engine out runway ah three four.p.11
17:54:04CACAM-1all other runways standard.p.11
17:54:09FOCAM-2engine failure after *.p.11
17:54:10FOCAM-2standard engine out. 17:54:12 so what have we got here we're fifty three ahp.11
17:54:10CACAM-1fifty four hundred so let's call that ah *...does that sound about right?p.11
17:54:25FOCAM-2yup.p.11
17:54:32FOCAM-2flaps five reduced.p.11
17:54:40CACAM-1thirty seven--.p.11
17:54:40FOCAM-2thirty seven forty forty six.p.11
17:54:42CACAM-1thirty seven forty forty six.p.11
17:54:48CACAM-1set forty--.p.11
17:54:53CACAM-1and what do we have here one seventeen.p.11
17:54:55FOCAM-2two twenty.p.12
17:54:56CACAM-1and external *. 17:55:02 alright so ah heading select up to ten thousandp.12
17:54:56CACAM-1feet level change top bug. did he give us the right runway? 17:55:09 that's three four right there. here's runway twop.12
17:54:56FOCAM-2five. you know there's a chance we can go two five.p.12
17:55:22CACAM-1watch your legs.p.12
17:55:24◦CAMsound of trim in motion.p.12
17:55:31FOCAM-2that's good forty forty six.p.12
17:55:35CACAM-1questions comments on the departure.p.12
17:55:37FOCAM-2nope.p.12
17:55:38CACAM-1okay receiving.p.12
17:55:41CACAM-1checked.p.13
17:55:42FOCAM-2flight deck windows locked?p.13
17:55:43CACAM-1they're locked.p.13
17:55:43FOCAM-2oxygen checked set one hundred percent?p.13
17:55:45CACAM-1checked one hundred percent.p.13
17:55:46FOCAM-2IRS selectors?p.13
17:55:47CACAM-1there nav.p.13
17:55:47FOCAM-2hydraulics?p.13
17:55:48CACAM-1checked on.p.13
17:55:48FOCAM-2air conditioning and pressurization?p.13
17:55:50CACAM-1it's set for Houston.p.13
17:55:52FOCAM-2excuse me mode control panel?p.13
17:55:52FOCAM-2nine three inches and I have sixty three hundred feet set and checked?p.14
17:56:03FOCAM-2takeoff config switch?p.14
17:56:03CACAM-1checked.p.14
17:56:04FOCAM-2ground proximity?p.14
17:56:05CACAM-1checked.p.14
17:56:05FOCAM-2speed brake lever down detent?p.14
17:56:06CACAM-1down detent.p.14
17:56:07FOCAM-2parking brake?p.14
17:56:07CACAM-1set.p.14
17:56:07FOCAM-2start levers?p.14
17:56:08CACAM-1cut off.p.15
17:56:08FOCAM-2transponder?p.15
17:56:10CACAM-1stand-by good squawk.p.15
17:56:11FOCAM-2log book ETOPS gear pins MEL?p.15
17:56:13CACAM-1checked onboard.p.15
17:56:14FOCAM-2flight attendant pilot briefing?p.15
17:56:15CACAM-1complete.p.15
17:56:15FOCAM-2receiving aircraft checklist complete.p.15
17:56:19FOCAM-2I got a lot * #.p.15
17:56:34FOCAM-2want the APU up?p.15
17:56:36CACAM-1what's that? yeah.p.15
17:57:49CACAM-1is that another one?p.15
17:57:49FOCAM-2for two five but I bumped up the zero fuel weight in the ah perf-init. here it comes.p.16
17:57:58CACAM-1three four right.p.16
17:58:05CACAM-1that's the old two five I'm gunna throw it.p.16
17:58:12FOCAM-2three four right that's the one we want right?p.16
17:58:15CACAM-1yup.p.16
17:58:16FOCAM-2here's the *.p.16
17:58:24CAMCAM-6Captain are you ready to go?p.16
17:58:28CAMCAM-6okay good evening folks from the flight deck Captain Butler here and first officer Lavangp.16
17:59:20CAMCAM-6ready to go?p.17
17:59:21CACAM-1check with @ Regina please.p.17
17:59:23CAMCAM-6okay.p.17
17:59:24CACAM-1if she's ready I'm ready.p.17
17:59:26CACAM-1I already said that once.p.17
17:59:28FOCAM-2I'm pretty sure you did too.p.17
17:59:42FOCAM-2we like it shaken not stirred huh?p.17
17:59:45CACAM-1depends on what I'm drinkin'.p.17
17:59:47FOCAM-2coffee.p.17
17:59:48CACAM-1I don't have a ah--.p.18
17:60:00CACAM-1is it still four on the trim?p.18
18:00:02FOCAM-2three and three quarters.p.18
18:00:03CACAM-1okay alright watch your legs.p.18
18:00:05◦CAM[sound similar to trim in motion]p.18
18:00:08◦CAM[sound of single chime]p.18
18:00:51CAMCAM-?it's warm.p.18
18:00:54INTINT-7ground to cockpit.p.18
18:00:56CAINT-1good evening.p.18
18:00:57INTINT-7good evening dude.p.18
18:00:59CACAM-1dude?p.18
18:01:10◦CAM[sound of high low chime]p.18
18:01:20CAINT-1let me run a checklist and I'll be right back with ya.p.19
18:01:22INTINT-7copy that.p.19
18:01:24FOCAM-2two nine nine seven.p.19
18:01:26CACAM-1set.p.19
18:01:35CACAM-1alright before start checklist.p.19
18:01:39FOCAM-2before start seatbelt sign?p.19
18:01:41CACAM-1it's on.p.19
18:01:41FOCAM-2door lights?p.19
18:01:42CACAM-1out.p.19
18:01:42FOCAM-2beacon?p.19
18:01:42CACAM-1it's on.p.19
18:01:43FOCAM-2CDU?p.19
18:01:43CACAM-1set.p.20
18:01:44FOCAM-2reference speeds?p.20
18:01:45CACAM-1thirty seven forty forty six set.p.20
18:01:47FOCAM-2thirty seven forty forty six set.p.20
18:01:49FOCAM-2fuel?p.20
18:01:53FOCAM-2trim?p.20
18:01:54CACAM-1three and three quarters zero.p.20
18:01:55FOCAM-2before start checklist complete. call ‘em?p.20
18:01:58CACAM-1actually lets wait.p.20
18:02:01CACAM-1* something here.p.20
18:02:04CACAM-1not a big hurry we're on-time.p.20
18:02:38CAMCAM-8now we--.p.21
18:02:39CACAM-1that's okay no problem.p.21
18:02:40CAMCAM-8ah eight and ninety nine.p.21
18:02:45CAMCAM-8Al.p.21
18:02:46CACAM-1Al Dave.p.21
18:02:47FOCAM-2I'm Sean.p.21
18:02:48CAMCAM-7Al. nice to meet you.p.21
18:02:49CACAM-1you too.p.21
18:02:51CAMCAM-8oh different guys now sorry guys.p.21
18:02:54CACAM-1huh that's alright that's the way it works.p.21
18:02:58CAMCAM-8are they dead heading back there?p.22
18:02:59CACAM-1yes.p.22
18:03:00CAMCAM-8okay that's why I'm confused sorry.p.22
18:03:03CACAM-1alright no problem.p.22
18:03:08CAMCAM-8uh hum.p.22
18:03:09CACAM-1alright thanks.p.22
18:03:12CACAM-1all fed and watered.p.22
18:03:13FOCAM-2I'm good.p.22
18:03:14CAMCAM-8how fast today?p.22
18:03:16CACAM-1one hour and fifty eight minutes.p.22
18:03:18CAMCAM-8alright.p.23
18:03:18CACAM-1see ya.p.23
18:03:19CAMCAM-?lock you guys up?p.23
18:03:20CACAM-1yup.p.23
18:03:21CAMCAM-8alright.p.23
18:03:21CACAM-1thanks.p.23
18:03:27CACAM-1perfect.p.23
18:03:28CACAM-1* tell you what - I'm gunna - disregard *p.23
18:03:37CACAM-1no.p.23
18:03:38CACAM-1we'll take the extra sheet.p.23
18:03:43FOCAM-2this is an extra for two five if we need it.p.24
18:03:46CACAM-1alright.p.24
18:03:52FOCAM-2what?p.24
18:04:03FOINT-2what's up?p.24
18:04:08CACAM-1call for west taxi.p.24
18:04:14CAINT-1brakes released your cleared to push tail east.p.24
18:04:18INTINT-7copy that.p.24
18:04:41CAHOT-1yeah.p.24
18:04:50FOHOT-2huh.p.25
18:04:55CACAM-1lined up for runway *.p.25
18:04:57INTINT-7okay sir you're cleared to start.p.25
18:04:59CAINT-1roger.p.25
18:05:02CACAM-1turn one.p.25
18:05:22FOHOT-2oil pressure rising.p.25
18:05:35CACAM-1* start slidin’ on this ice.p.25
18:05:43INTINT-7okay sir the push back has been complete set brakes.p.25
18:05:50CAINT-1brakes are set.p.25
18:05:57FOHOT-2start valve closed.p.25
18:05:58CACAM-1two please.p.25
18:06:15CAINT-1roger stand-by.p.26
18:06:18FOHOT-2oil pressure rising. 18:06:32 looks like we've got two good starts you're cleared offp.26
18:06:18CAINT-1the headset thanks for the great push see you out front with the pin.p.26
18:06:37INTINT-7roger that you have a good day.p.26
18:06:46FOHOT-2start valve closed.p.26
18:06:58CACAM-1I'm waitin’ for this thing to start slidin'.p.26
18:07:02FOHOT-2I ah you gotta love winter.p.26
18:07:04CACAM-1after start checklist switches closed.p.26
18:07:31FOHOT-2watch your knees.p.26
18:07:38FOHOT-2after start checklist generators?p.26
18:07:40CACAM-1on.p.26
18:07:41FOHOT-2pitot heat?p.27
18:07:42CACAM-1ah on.p.27
18:07:43FOHOT-2anti-ice.p.27
18:07:44CACAM-1it's on.p.27
18:07:44FOHOT-2recall.p.27
18:07:45CACAM-1is checked.p.27
18:07:47FOHOT-2auto-brake.p.27
18:07:48CACAM-1is RTO.p.27
18:07:48FOHOT-2flaps.p.27
18:07:48CACAM-1set five.p.27
18:07:50FOHOT-2controls.p.27
18:07:50CACAM-1checked.p.27
18:07:51FOHOT-2flight deck door?p.27
18:07:53FOHOT-2after start checklist complete.p.28
18:07:54FOHOT-2he said call ground now for taxi right?p.28
18:07:56CAHOT-1nopep.28
18:07:57FOHOT-2no okayp.28
18:07:57CAHOT-1no ah talk to himp.28
18:07:58FORDO-2Ramp ah Continental fourteen zero four ready to taxi fourteen zero four you'll follow a nineteen hundred justp.28
18:08:02FORDO-2number one there continental fourteen zero four we see that nineteen hundredp.28
18:08:16FOHOT-2okay there he goes clear rightp.28
18:08:20FOCAM-2could that be rightp.28
18:08:21CACAM-1ah nopep.28
18:08:21CACAM-1frontier guy so here's the little nineteen hundredp.29
18:08:36CACAM-1three whiskey is the south onep.29
18:08:37FOCAM-2okayp.29
18:09:02CAHOT-1follow himp.29
18:09:08FOHOT-2you done with the ah APU?p.29
18:09:09CAHOT-1yeah we're all done with thatp.29
18:09:44FOHOT-2grounds up on onep.29
18:09:47CAHOT-1on onep.29
18:10:17CACAM-1you you can call herp.29
18:10:18FOCAM-2okayp.29
18:10:55FORDO-2three four right via foxtrot Continental fourteen zero fourp.30
18:10:59CACAM-1foxtrot that is the secondp.30
18:11:04CAHOT-1taxi wayp.30
18:11:15CACAM-1hotel - golf- foxtrotp.30
18:11:24CACAM-1alright go where ever the signs say to gop.30
18:11:48FOCAM-2that's correct yupp.30
18:12:21FORDO-2talk to tower Continental fourteen zero four good nightp.30
18:12:28CACAM-1do we have a departure freq in our ah ?p.30
18:12:30FOCAM-2twenty eight twenty fivep.31
18:12:33FOCAM-2as per the SIDp.31
18:12:35CAHOT-1there you gop.31
18:12:51CAHOT-1** these little RJ guysp.31
18:13:09FOHOT-2ahp.31
18:13:10CAHOT-1what do you think he was scowlin’ about?p.31
18:13:12FOHOT-2I don't knowp.31
18:13:15FOHOT-2he had a limp he was allp.31
18:13:18CAHOT-1he was limping?p.32
18:13:18FOHOT-2yeah hobblin’ around pretty goodp.32
18:13:23CAHOT-1that's what he's got sore legp.32
18:13:33FOHOT-2yeah how about this guard's on two ho ho ho 18:13:37 you wait for that guard to cut you out rightp.32
18:13:33CAHOT-1when you need to really hear something on your departure I like guard you know what the tower can hear 18:13:45 guard down here so if somebody's gunna talkp.32
18:13:33CAHOT-1on guard I tell ya and maybe guard en-route you know cause anything around the approach control area approach is gunna hear itp.32
18:13:56FOHOT-2ah huhp.32
18:14:07CAHOT-1alright before takeoff checklistp.32
18:14:08FOCAM-2thirty five three right?p.32
18:14:14FOCAM-2want the ice protection on for takeoff?p.33
18:14:16CACAM-1no let's kill itp.33
18:14:19CACAM-1watch your eyesp.33
18:14:24FOCAM-2the old ones they won't work that wellp.33
18:14:37CACAM-1position and holdp.33
18:14:40CACAM-1lights work before takeoff recall check departure briefing 18:14:43 complete departure announcement completep.33
18:14:40FOCAM-2air conditioning and pressurization’s is set start switches are continuous auto throttles on flaps five set green light ?p.33
18:14:51CACAM-1flips five set green lightp.34
18:14:52FOCAM-2takeoff config switch checkedp.34
18:14:54CACAM-1checked transponder TA/RA before takeoff checklist is CAM-2 completep.34
18:14:59CAHOT-1clear leftp.34
18:15:15CAHOT-1forgettin’ how short these airplanes turnp.34
18:15:20FOHOT-2it's about as good as it gets ah right there huhp.34
18:15:22CAHOT-1ahp.34
18:15:24CAHOT-1*p.34
18:15:40◦CAM(sound of two clicks)p.34
18:15:58FOCAM-2did you want three forty four in there?p.34
18:16:47CAHOT-1looks like you got some wind out herep.34
18:16:48FOHOT-2yeahp.35
18:16:49CAHOT-1**p.35
18:16:57CAHOT-1oh yeah look at those clouds moving 18:17:26 Continental fourteen zero four wind two seven zero atp.35
18:16:57ATCTWRtwo seven turn right heading zero two zero runway three four right cleared for takeoffp.35
18:17:37CACAM-1alrightp.35
18:17:38CACAM-1left cross wind twenty ah seven knotsp.35
18:17:44FOHOT-2huhp.35
18:17:45CAHOT-1alright look for ninety point ninep.35
18:17:49◦CAM((sound of increasing engine noise))p.35
18:17:52CAMCAM-?throttles (comin') backp.35
18:17:54CAMCAM-?huhp.35
18:18:00CAHOT-1check powerp.36
18:18:04FOHOT-2power's set ninety point nine percentp.36
18:18:13CAMCAM-?Jesusp.36
18:18:14◦CAMsound of snapp.36
18:18:15◦CAMsound of snapp.36
18:18:15FOHOT-2oh # # #p.36
18:18:17◦CAMsound of increasing background noisep.36
18:18:21CAHOT-1rejectp.36
18:18:22CAHOT-1rejectp.36
18:18:22FOHOT-2*jectp.36