AMERICAN AIRLINES NTSB cites co-pilot as cause of Flight 587 crash in N.Y.

The airline improperly trained its pilots, investigators found.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 587 caused the November 2001 crash that claimed the lives of 265 people, the staff of the nation's airline safety agency reported today.
Investigator Robert Benzon of the National Transportation Safety Board staff said the co-pilot's response to turbulence, just seconds after the Airbus A300-600 plane took off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, was "unnecessary and aggressive."
Benzon also said that investigators found that American Airlines improperly trained its pilots to use the aircraft's rudder while recovering from upsets and said the problem could have been exacerbated by the airline's simulator training.
Benzon also said that the rudder control system on the aircraft is sensitive at higher air speeds, which is potentially hazardous.
The safety board itself was expected to rule later today on the staff's findings.
What happened
On Nov. 12, 2001, Sten Molin, the co-pilot, moved the plane's rudder back and forth after takeoff, trying to control the climbing aircraft, not realizing he was sealing the grim fate of those on board.
Molin was at the controls when the plane hit turbulence almost immediately after taking off for the Dominican Republic.
"Hang onto it, hang onto it," Capt. Edward States implored.
"Let's go for power, please," Molin said.
A second later came a loud bang, which investigators believe was the tail breaking off. Then came the roar of air rushing against the aircraft and alarms sounding in the cockpit.
"What the hell are we into [inaudible]?" Molin said. "We're stuck in it."
States' last recorded words came five seconds later: "Get out of it! Get out of it!"
Both Airbus Industrie, which manufactured the jetliner, and American Airlines, which trained Molin, agree that if he had taken his foot off the rudder pedal, the tail wouldn't have broken off and the plane wouldn't have plunged into a New York City neighborhood. It was the second deadliest plane crash on U.S. soil.
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