Northwest Airlink 5719 / Slam Dunk Gone Wrong

September 28, 2022·49 min·4 clips

Five of six pilots said they were intimidated by Captain Fallitz, whose poor airmanship led to a fatal breakdown in communication.

The hosts analyze the 1993 crash of Northwest Airlink Flight 5719, which killed all 18 on board after striking trees short of the runway in poor weather. They detail how Captain Marvin Fallitz's intimidating demeanor, poor crew coordination, and an unauthorized 'slam dunk' descent led to a loss of altitude awareness, compounded by the airline's failure to address his history of deficiencies.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Black Box Down