"Unraveling the Tragedy: American Airlines Flight 965 | Air Crash Investigation"

American Airlines Flight 965, a Boeing 757, met a tragic end on December 20, 1995, crashing into a mountain in Buga, Colombia, resulting in the loss of 151 passengers and 8 crew members. The flight was scheduled from Miami to Cali, facing multiple delays due to winter storms and airport congestion.

The departure, initially set for 16:40, experienced a 34-minute delay due to connecting passengers and baggage. Further, a 1-hour 21-minute ground delay ensued, causing the aircraft to finally depart from Miami at 18:35. The estimated flight time to Cali was 3 hours and 12 minutes.

Navigating through Cuban, Jamaican, and Colombian airspace, the flight encountered challenges in the absence of radar in Cali, necessitating reliance on radio navigation aids and the instrument approach system due to an attack in 1992.

Choosing a straight-in approach to expedite the landing, the pilots accidentally cleared approach waypoints from their navigation computer, leading to critical errors. Attempting to find Tuluá's coordinates, the pilots extended speed brakes to slow down, impacting their descent.

The navigation computer's confusion with duplicated identifiers and incomplete programming caused the autopilot to steer towards Bogotá instead of Rozo waypoint. Realizing the error, the crew initiated corrective actions, but a left turn led the aircraft over mountainous terrain.

At 21:42, the aircraft collided with a mountain near its summit. Research suggests that immediate retraction of speed brakes when the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alarm sounded might have altered the tragic outcome. The investigation sheds light on the critical role of precise navigation systems and swift response in preventing aviation disasters.