Pilot Says He Tried To Keep Airliner On Runway

WASHINGTON – The pilot of an airliner destroyed after veering off a Denver runway last month told federal safety investigators he struggled to keep the aircraft on course during the attempted to takeoff.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday the pilot of the Boeing 737-500 said that when the airplane suddenly diverged to the left during a takeoff roll, he tried to correct the course with the rudder but couldn’t.

The pilot also said he tried using the jet’s tiller to manipulate the steering of the nose gear, but that didn’t keep the aircraft on the runway either.

Houston-bound Continental Airlines flight 1404 was carrying 110 passengers; 38 were injured.