On 28 November 1979 on a sightseeing flight to Antarctica, the Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed on the slopes of Mount Erebus. All 237 passengers and 20 crewmembers perished on the impact. Two investigations that followed both agreed that due to the Polar Whiteout the crewmembers of Flight 901 had not seen the mountain. This article offers a discussion on whiteouts in general and in regards to the accident. It explores other phenomena that could have led to the tragedy, namely spatial disorientation illusions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Polar Whiteouts
3. Meteorological condition in the area of the disaster
4. CVR
5. Chippendale’s report
6. Captain Gordon Vette’s research
7. Mahon’s “whiteout”
8. A false horizon
9. Conclusion
10. Acknowledgements
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This article re-examines the causes of the 1979 Air New Zealand Flight 901 crash on Mount Erebus, challenging the widely accepted "sector whiteout" theory in favor of an explanation centered on spatial disorientation and optical illusions.
- Scientific analysis of Polar Whiteout conditions and their diagnostic features.
- Critical review of the Chippindale (1979) and Mahon (1981) official investigation reports.
- Evaluation of meteorological conditions surrounding the crash site using cockpit voice recorder data and photographic evidence.
- Exploration of spatial disorientation phenomena, specifically false horizon and black hole illusions, as alternative causes for the tragedy.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Polar Whiteouts
The term “whiteout” is used to describe the lack of visibility arising in various meteorological conditions, including blizzards, fogs, etc. In this article, we will discuss the true whiteout (the Polar Whiteout) that is alleged to be responsible for the disaster.
The Polar Whiteout is, “a phenomenon of diffuse reflection and scattering by cloud and ground” Fritz (1957). The Polar Whiteouts occur when clouds are so thick and uniform that light reflected by the snow is about the same intensity as that from the sky. No object casts a shadow, the surface of the snow merges into the sky, and no horizon, ground, or sky features can be recognized (Harker, 1958).
Writing in Weather Fritz (1957) emphasizes that true Polar Whiteouts are always associated with clear air: It should be emphasized that Polar Whiteout is independent of any ordinary meteorological obstructions to vision. It occurs in pure, clean air. Thus Stefansson (1945) states that ' under the conditions where a (polar) bear is invisible a hundred yards off, a blue fox might be visible at a mile or more '. The whiteout should not be confused with fog or haze; the air is clear during whiteout, but the combination of complete snow cover and overcast sky removes all chance of shadows or contrasts so that white objects are not discernible against their background, while dark objects can be seen readily.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the Flight 901 sightseeing mission, the crash on Mount Erebus, and the initial attribution of the accident to Polar Whiteout phenomena.
2. Polar Whiteouts: Defines the scientific characteristics of true Polar Whiteouts and distinguishes them from other meteorological conditions such as fog or haze.
3. Meteorological condition in the area of the disaster: Analyzes weather reports and eyewitness accounts from the crash day to assess whether the conditions supported the formation of a Polar Whiteout.
4. CVR: Discusses visibility-related statements made by the flight crew in the final minutes recorded on the cockpit voice recorder.
5. Chippendale’s report: Examines the findings of the initial accident investigation, which cited pilot error in conditions of poor visibility.
6. Captain Gordon Vette’s research: Details the alternative "sector whiteout" theory proposed by Captain Gordon Vette, which gained official acceptance.
7. Mahon’s “whiteout”: Critically reviews Justice Mahon’s investigation, arguing that the conditions encountered by Mahon do not support the occurrence of a Polar Whiteout.
8. A false horizon: Discusses the phenomenon of false horizons and other spatial disorientation illusions that could have deceived the pilots.
9. Conclusion: Summarizes the argument that the disaster was caused by spatial disorientation and visual illusions rather than a Polar Whiteout.
10. Acknowledgements: Expresses gratitude to the experts and scientists who contributed to the research.
Keywords
Air New Zealand Flight 901, Mount Erebus, Polar Whiteout, sector whiteout, spatial disorientation, false horizon, black hole illusion, aviation safety, meteorological conditions, cockpit voice recorder, visual perception, Antarctic exploration, pilot error, visibility, flight path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this article?
The article investigates the 1979 crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 in Antarctica, specifically questioning the validity of the "sector whiteout" theory as the cause of the disaster.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include meteorological phenomena in Antarctica, the limitations of human perception in featureless terrain, the analysis of official aviation accident reports, and the study of spatial disorientation illusions.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The goal is to provide a scientific re-evaluation of the accident by arguing against the presence of a "Polar Whiteout" and proposing that the pilots were deceived by other specific spatial disorientation illusions.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author uses a forensic analysis approach, comparing cockpit voice recordings, photographic evidence, and eyewitness descriptions against established scientific definitions of meteorological and optical phenomena.
What specific aspects are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the technical definitions of whiteouts, the weather reports from the time of the crash, the analysis of the CVR transcripts, and a critical evaluation of the theories presented by Chippindale and Mahon.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include Flight 901, Mount Erebus, Polar Whiteout, spatial disorientation, false horizon, and aviation incident investigation.
How does the author explain the "sector whiteout" theory's flaws?
The author argues that there is no scientific evidence for the existence of "sector whiteouts" and that the weather conditions described by investigators are inconsistent with the scientific requirements for a true Polar Whiteout.
What role did the "false horizon" play in the author's conclusion?
The author identifies the "false horizon" as a permanent feature of the area, which, combined with clouds and terrain, created a deadly illusion that made the pilots believe they had clear visibility over flat ground.
- Citar trabajo
- Mila Zinkova (Autor), 2019, Air New Zealand Flight 901 and Polar Whiteout, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/459457
