More ATC Tapes Released In Private Pilot King Air Incident

The FAA on Monday released additional tapes of the conversations between air traffic controllers and Doug White, the low-time private pilot who successfully landed a twin-engine King Air in Florida last week after the pilot died at the controls. The new tape documents the first 14 minutes of radio calls, starting with White’s first transmission, when he declares an emergency and asks for help. The airplane continued to climb up to 17,000 feet until Miami air traffic controller Lisa Grimm, a commercial pilot with a multi rating, was able to help him find the correct way to turn off the autopilot and level off the airplane. “I disengaged it. I’m flying the airplane by hand,” White said. “You find me the widest, longest runway you can, ma’am.” Fort Myers air traffic controller Dan Favio then contacted a King Air pilot he knew, Kari Sorenson, who was able to help relay information to White so he could successfully land the airplane. For the full 14-minute tape, posted at the Naple News Web site, click here (MP3 file).