FORT WORTH, Texas -- The 14-month trial to determine liability in the 1985 crash of Delta Air Lines Flight 191 begins to wind down Wednesday with closing arguments scheduled before U.S. District Judge David Belew Jr.
The outcome of the non-jury trial, in which Delta as the main plaintiff was pitted against the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration, will show who should be blamed for the fiery crash of the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar on Aug. 2, 1985. The plane crashed during a violent thunderstorm at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, killing 137 people.
Belew consolidated in one trial the various lawsuits of the survivors and families of crash victims and the separate suits filed by Delta against federal air traffic controllers and weather service officials.
Belew's decision, expected sometime in August, will determine whether Delta, the government or both should be held liable for the crash. The stakes are estimated at between $120 million and $175 million, including the $25 million Delta is seeking from the government for the loss of its jetliner.
Central to the case is Delta's claim that weather forecasters and air traffic controllers did not adequately warn the crew of Flight 191 about possible wind shear conditions prior to the landing and hence should be held responsible.
The government's position is that the crew had enough advance weather information to abort the landing but chose not to do so because of Delta's deficient cockpit training procedures or its corporate policies.
It was alleged during the trial that the pilot, Capt. Edward Connors, had filled prescriptions for the tranquilizer Stelazine several times in the months preceding the crash. However, it was not known whether he was taking the drug at the time of the crash. Delta argued there was no connection.
The National Transportation Safety Board in its 1986 report listed three probable causes: the pilot's decision to continue his landing approach after spotting lightning in a storm directly ahead; lack of adequate training in avoiding and escaping wind shear; and lack of timely wind shear hazard information from the ground.
John Martin was scheduled to deliver the closing arguments for Delta, and Kathlynn Fadely was to speak for the government.
