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As the accelerating plane splashed down the runway, Pettit was alarmed by the instrument readings for engine thrust. "God," he said, "look at that thing. That don't seem right, does it? Ah, that's not right." Wheaton: "Yes, it is." Pettit: "Naw, I don't think that's right. Ah, maybe it is. I don't know."
The jetliner took off. Seventeen seconds later, already alerted to the danger of a stall by the rattle of the control stick, Wheaton tried to will Flight 90 aloft. "Forward, forward. Come on, forward. Forward! Just barely climb." Five seconds later Pettit knew it was over. "Larry," he said, "we're going down, Larry."
"I know it," Wheaton said. Before he uttered his last word, the tape picked up the first sound of crushing metal.