A video released by John Suchocki, a forensic animator at Eyewitness Animations, a litigation support firm that specializes in aviation accident reconstruction, shows a detailed animation that re-creates the descent and crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport on July 6. Using data released by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, Eyewitness Animations re-created the accident, along with what would have been the proper approach for Flight 214.

In the animation, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 is seen descending at a steep rate, dropping far below the proper approach path, only to pull up at the last minute. As a result, the tail of the plane struck the sea wall, breaking off, while the rest of the plane went into a lateral spin and slid off the runway. When it finally came to a complete stop, the plane was resting on the side of the runway.

A ghost plane is also shown approaching the runway at a three-degree glide slope. Suchocki explains the ghost plane’s modeling: “This is the path and altitude the Asiana flight should have been flying during the approach.”

However, according to Suchocki, the blue ghost plane was not programmed to show the proper approach airspeed. “If it were programmed to fly the correct approach speed, it would very quickly pass the Asiana aircraft and disappear off screen.”

The reconstruction also contains the tower communications with the flight. However, Suchocki explains in the description that data needed to sync communications with the animation hadn’t been released by the FAA or NTSB as of the time of the video’s release.

Another video showing the pilot’s view before impact on the flight can also be seen below.

Take a look at both reconstructions of the accident here. Let us know what you think in the comments.

RELATED STORIES