Word: panning
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Pan Am Pilot Victor Grubbs, 56, who had 32 years experience, actually been directed by the tower to take an awkward, 135° backward exit onto Tenerife's ramp C-3 rather than use the more gently angled ramp C4? Grubbs was heading toward C-4 as he moved to get in position behind the KLM plane to make his own takeoff. If he had made the earlier turn, he might have been clear of the runway before the KLM 747 reached that exit point...
...pilot not heard the Pan Am Clipper's report that it had not yet cleared the runway and would report again when it had? Or had the KLM crew somehow mistaken the Pan Am message to mean that the Clipper had, rather than had not, cleared the runway? Even if there had been such a misunderstanding, of course, the KLM pilot should have awaited the tower O.K. to proceed...
...huge craft abruptly into the air to leapfrog over the Clipper. Pilot Grubbs was also violently yanking his ship to the left to get out of the way. Experts estimate that the KLM plane needed only 25 ft. of added altitude to avoid the collision, saving the Pan Am passengers. Whether Veldhuizen could have controlled his plane to avoid crashing is questionable. "He probably knew he had no chance himself," said a Pan Am investigator at Tenerife. "He tried to save...
Though key questions remain, investigators have little doubt about the general sequence of events that followed. The tower ordered KLM to taxi the full length of the runway, make a 180° turn and hold. It ordered Pan Am to follow about three minutes behind and turn off at the "third intersection." There were four such turns (see diagram) providing runway access from the terminal apron and taxi strip. Ten planes congesting the apron blocked the jumbos from using the full taxiway to reach their takeoff point. KLM confirmed its orders and proceeded. Pan Am followed at about 6 m.p.h...
When word came that the Las Palmas Airport had been reopened, the KLM craft was still refueling, blocking the Clipper's way. Pan Am First Officer Robert Bragg radioed to KLM, asking how much longer the refueling would take. "About 35 minutes," came the crisp reply. Bragg and Grubbs measured the clearance around the KLM plane, found it inadequate to taxi past. KLM would have to take off first...