Des Moines got the better of Mesa...
 

Now before Bla bla bla gets on my case :rolleyes:...I googled it and can't find too much 411 other than a Mesa flight skidded off the taxiway in the storm. Anybody know more? DSM commuters perhaps??

I found the story on the Des Moines Register Online (Local newspaper). They had the best picture and info of the incident. I was trying to find out if it was one of our (SKywest) planes, but the picture from their website had a nice picture of fire and rescue at the door with a good view of "Operated by Mesa Airlines Inc." Link added below! Glad I am in Bakersfield and not in the big storm back home!

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

I know it was pretty slick here in Lincoln.

Looks like the DSM paper has got some photos:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pb...s=Itemnr=1#top

Mesa op specs let them roll in FZRA?

Hey buddy thats my money to get home through ORD from DCA. JS on that one lots of times. Glad not this time.

I would also like to say that they put 2 off the runway the same day.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...4/1207/GPGnews


Some two dozen flights were canceled at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. An incoming Mesa Airlines regional jet flying for United Express slid off the pavement after failing to make the turn onto a taxi way, said a spokesman for Chicago-based United Airlines.

http://cmsimg.desmoinesregister.com/...w=600&Maxh=500

wow look at the runway!

Yeah, safe to say braking action is non-existant.

A friend of mine was on that plane that skid off the runway. He said they sat there for a half hour before the emergency crews got there. I actually saw him in one of the pictures on the Des Moines register website.

Yeah man...I was thinking about ya - wonderin' if you had the nuts for a commute today LoL. Glad to hear your either at work or at home and not there!

I'm a little confused by picture 8. Did they do a 180 or did they slide off while turning? Looks like they didn't make it too far down the runway.

On another note I'll bet 3 to 1 the pilot on the phone in pic 1 is either talking to the chief pilot or the union rep!

I enjoy how the press makes such a huge deal out of this. Anything to get the airlines in the news when an accident happens...

That pavement in the picture looks like you could ice skate on it.

My question is why didn't the airport authority do a better job of keeping the runways clean?

I assure you being from Iowa and knowing the Des Moines airport front and back they were doing everything in their power to keep those runways clean. Midwest mentality and a good work ethic drives the DSM airport day by day and they deserve to be commended on their clean facilities and well-taken care of field. However, growing up in Iowa I know that when a storm like this hits it comes down in sheets very quickly.

I know it doesn't look great but I know they were trying hard that day to keep things clear.

On a lighter note. When I flew with TSA for De-Icing in Houston the remarks on the 10-7 pages said De-ice- YOUR IN HOUSTON!!!

Just thought that was pretty funny.

I'll take that bet! That's not a Mesa uniform for the United system. No hats, for one.

that sux, glad it wasn't more serious...and glad no one was hurt....on the flip, glad it wasn't us...

and yeh, probably a commuter...sux to be him also.

One thing is for sure, he has 200hrs.

I actually know the guy in the picture on the phone....he lives in Des Moines and flies for Republic!!! The mesa guys were smart to stay out of the media frenzy!

It was freezing rain. Not much you can do. You couldn't get a car down that runway safely, it came that quickly and was that bad.

Looks like he's on the phone with scheduling, eh? :)

No kidding? If he's a new guy I might have given him a ride a couple times. As in started this past month.

Anyway doesn't it look like the didn't go very far down the runway?

"Yeah, uh, Scheduling...well...you see...I tried getting to work today, really I did...but on Mesa...and yeah...well they almost killed me...so I'm calling in 'almost dead'...!"

:D

...................

Just the facts...
 

It's been almost 2 years, but here are some facts...

-It was -fzra at the time and, yes, that is a go (within hold over time).
-The white stuff you see on the runway is ice pellets that fell after the a/c slid off the runway (notice no skidmarks).
-The a/c slid almost directly across the runway and hardly 20 feet down its length while spinning 90 degrees to the left before exiting the pavement.
-The a/c was only going a couple (that means 2) mph when it happened.
-A brand new ATIS came out right before the incident reporting the runway was cleared off and the braking action was GOOD.
-The CA had 6,500 TT.
-I would not say that the Mesa crew tried to kill anybody in this incident
-The blame/fault was put entirely on the airport and the tower for the inaccurate ATIS and NONE put on the flight crew.

The crew is ALWAYS at fault LoL. But seriously, thanks for the update!

crap just realized this was a two-year old thread, I hate thread revivals that deal with "current" incidents