NASA to crash plane to test emergency locator transmitters

When the plane is dropped it will be packed with five ELTs, data-gathering sensors, cameras, and two crash test dummies.

When NASA wants to test how well a space ship will survive a crash landing it just drops it. However, as this montage from the space agency’s Landing and Impact Research Facility shows, this process isn’t almost as violent as you might expect. NASA Television will air live coverage of the test, which is scheduled to happen between 1 and 2 p.m. EDT.

General aviation and commercial planes carry emergency locator transmitters that should work in the extreme circumstances and broadcast a location signal in the event of a crash. The satellites then repeat the signal to the nearest search and rescue station.

This test is improve ELT system performance and robustness, giving rescue workers the best chance of saving lives.

In more scientific fashion than Hollywood, the agency’s Search and Rescue Mission Office will simulate a survivable plane crash.

The test on Wednesday will mark the last of the three crash tests of three different Cessna 172 aircraft.

A Cessna 172 will plummet 100 feet out of the sky, tail-first, to the ground in Virginia on Wednesday afternoon.

NASA has already twice tested the ELTs, dropping planes from 80 feet (flat, into concrete) and 100 feet (nose first, into soil).