Few stories in aviation history are as compelling as that of Don Usher.
On a day in D.C. marked by heavy snow and poor visibility, Usher and his team were not expecting to fly. However, when Air Florida Flight 90 went missing, they quickly mobilized to respond to the emergency.
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On Jan. 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90, a Boeing 727, left Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C., for Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a planned stop in Tampa. However, the plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge shortly after takeoff before plunging into the Potomac River.
According to FAA reports, the aircraft was carrying 74 passengers and five crew members. Only four passengers and one crew member were rescued and survived.
FAA reports also state that the plane was experiencing difficulties taking off from the runway due to ice accumulation on the plane’s wings.
Loss of control was determined to be due to reduction in aerodynamic lift resulting from ice and snow that had accumulated on the airplane’s wings during prolonged ground operation at National Airport. Contributing to the airplane’s poor takeoff performance was a significant engine thrust shortfall believed to be due to anomalous engine thrust indications on both engines caused by engine pressure ratio (EPR) Pt2 probes which were believed to have been plugged with snow and ice during ground operation.
FAA on Air Florida Flight 90
Usher and his rescue technician, the late Gene Windsor, faced challenging conditions as they navigated to the crash site on the Potomac River.
“The weather was so bad I was flying, looking between my feet through the chin bubble to maintain visual contact with the ground,” Usher recalled.
Despite the obstacles, they reached the scene where the plane had crashed into the icy river.
The rescue was a race against time, with survivors struggling in freezing waters. Usher and Windsor used a tow rope to pull people to safety, demonstrating quick thinking and bravery. “It takes little events to have a crash, and it took little events to have a rescue,” Usher said.
The story of Air Florida Flight 90 is not just about tragedy but also about heroism. Alongside Usher, ordinary citizens like Lenny Skutnik, who jumped into the river to save a drowning woman, showed incredible courage.
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Reflecting on the harrowing rescue, Usher described how close they were to the water during the operation.
“The skid, the right skid, went underwater,” he said, emphasizing the precariousness of their position. The entire rescue took about 10 minutes, which involved pulling people out of the freezing water in a short timeframe.
Usher also shared insights on flight safety in Washington, D.C., highlighting the complexities of navigating the airspace, where helicopters and planes often intersect. “There is so much light in the District of Columbia... you can easily lose an aircraft, particularly if it’s coming right at you,” he noted.
Usher’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of training and awareness in aviation safety.
News4JAX’s full interview with Don Usher can be watched below.