These communications are taken from the cockpit voice recorders of both aircraft, as well as from the Tenerife control tower's tapes.
1705:36–1706:50
1705:36.7
[KLM first officer completes pre-flight checklist. KLM 4805 is now at the end of the runway, in position for departure.]
1705:41.5
KLM FIRST OFFICER Wait a minute, we don't have an ATC clearance. [This statement is apparently a response to an advancing of the throttles in the KLM.]
KLM CAPTAIN No, I know that, go ahead, ask.
1705:44.6–1705:50.8
KLM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) The KLM four eight zero five is now ready for take-off and we are waiting for our ATC clearance.
1705:53.4–1706:08.1
TENERIFE TOWER KLM eight seven zero five [sic] you are cleared to the Papa beacon, climb to and maintain flight level nine zero, right turn after take-off, proceed with heading four zero until intercepting the three two five radial from Las Palmas VOR.
1706:07.4
KLM CAPTAIN Yes.
1706:09.6–1706:17.8
KLM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) Ah roger, sir, we are cleared to the Papa beacon flight level nine zero, right turn out zero four zero until intercepting the three two five. We are now at take-off [or "uh..taking off"].
1706:11.1
[KLM brakes released.]
1706:12.3
KLM CAPTAIN We gaan ... check thrust. [We're going ... check thrust.]
1706:14.0
[Engine acceleration audible in KLM cockpit.]
1706:18.2–1706:21.2
TENERIFE TOWER OK.... Stand by for take-off, I will call you. [Only the start of this message could be heard clearly by the KLM crew due to radio interference.]
1706:19.3
PAN AM CAPTAIN No... uh.
1706:20.3
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) And we're still taxiing down the runway, the clipper one seven three six. [This message is not heard completely clearly by the KLM crew due to radio interference.]
1706:25.5
TENERIFE TOWER Ah, Papa Alpha one seven three six, report the runway clear.
1706:29.6
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) OK, we'll report when (we are) clear.
1706:31.7
TENERIFE TOWER Thank you. [This was the last radio communication involving the two aircraft. Everything that follows is intra-cockpit communication amongst the respective crews.]
1706:32–1706:40
1706:32.1
PAN AM CAPTAIN Let's get the hell out of here.
1706:34.9
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER Yeah, he's anxious, isn't he?
1706:36.2
PAN AM FLIGHT ENGINEER Yeah, after he held us up for an hour and a half, that bastard. Now he's in a rush.
1706:32.4
KLM FLIGHT ENGINEER Is hij er niet af dan? [Is he not clear, then?]
1706:34.1
KLM CAPTAIN Wat zeg je? [What do you say?]
1706:34.2
KLM UNKNOWN Yup.
1706:34.7
KLM FLIGHT ENGINEER Is hij er niet af, die Pan American? [Is he not clear, that Pan American?]
1706:35.7
KLM CAPTAIN Jawel. [Oh yes. (emphatic)]
1706:40–1706:50
1706:40.5
[Pan Am captain sees the KLM's landing lights at approx. 700 m.]
1706:40.6
PAN AM CAPTAIN There he is ... look at him. Goddamn that son-of-a-bitch is coming!
1706:45.9
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER Get off! Get off! Get off!
1706:43.5
KLM FIRST OFFICER V-1.
1706:44.0
[PH-BUF (KLM 4805) starts rotation.]
1706:47.4
KLM CAPTAIN Oh shit!
1706:48
PAN AM CAPTAIN Oh god damn!
1706:49.7
PH-BUF (KLM 4805) records sound of collision.
1706:50
N736PA (Pan Am 1736) records sound of collision.
These communications are taken from the cockpit voice recorders of both aircraft, as well as from the Tenerife control tower's tapes.
1705:36–1706:50
1705:36.7
[KLM first officer completes pre-flight checklist. KLM 4805 is now at the end of the runway, in position for departure.]
1705:41.5
KLM FIRST OFFICER Wait a minute, we don't have an ATC clearance. [This statement is apparently a response to an advancing of the throttles in the KLM.]
KLM CAPTAIN No, I know that, go ahead, ask.
1705:44.6–1705:50.8
KLM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) The KLM four eight zero five is now ready for take-off and we are waiting for our ATC clearance.
1705:53.4–1706:08.1
TENERIFE TOWER KLM eight seven zero five [sic] you are cleared to the Papa beacon, climb to and maintain flight level nine zero, right turn after take-off, proceed with heading four zero until intercepting the three two five radial from Las Palmas VOR.
1706:07.4
KLM CAPTAIN Yes.
1706:09.6–1706:17.8
KLM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) Ah roger, sir, we are cleared to the Papa beacon flight level nine zero, right turn out zero four zero until intercepting the three two five. We are now at take-off [or "uh..taking off"].
1706:11.1
[KLM brakes released.]
1706:12.3
KLM CAPTAIN We gaan ... check thrust. [We're going ... check thrust.]
1706:14.0
[Engine acceleration audible in KLM cockpit.]
1706:18.2–1706:21.2
TENERIFE TOWER OK.... Stand by for take-off, I will call you. [Only the start of this message could be heard clearly by the KLM crew due to radio interference.]
1706:19.3
PAN AM CAPTAIN No... uh.
1706:20.3
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) And we're still taxiing down the runway, the clipper one seven three six. [This message is not heard completely clearly by the KLM crew due to radio interference.]
1706:25.5
TENERIFE TOWER Ah, Papa Alpha one seven three six, report the runway clear.
1706:29.6
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) OK, we'll report when (we are) clear.
1706:31.7
TENERIFE TOWER Thank you. [This was the last radio communication involving the two aircraft. Everything that follows is intra-cockpit communication amongst the respective crews.]
1706:32–1706:40
1706:32.1
PAN AM CAPTAIN Let's get the hell out of here.
1706:34.9
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER Yeah, he's anxious, isn't he?
1706:36.2
PAN AM FLIGHT ENGINEER Yeah, after he held us up for an hour and a half, that bastard. Now he's in a rush.
1706:32.4
KLM FLIGHT ENGINEER Is hij er niet af dan? [Is he not clear, then?]
1706:34.1
KLM CAPTAIN Wat zeg je? [What do you say?]
1706:34.2
KLM UNKNOWN Yup.
1706:34.7
KLM FLIGHT ENGINEER Is hij er niet af, die Pan American? [Is he not clear, that Pan American?]
1706:35.7
KLM CAPTAIN Jawel. [Oh yes. (emphatic)]
1706:40–1706:50
1706:40.5
[Pan Am captain sees the KLM's landing lights at approx. 700 m.]
1706:40.6
PAN AM CAPTAIN There he is ... look at him. Goddamn that son-of-a-bitch is coming!
1706:45.9
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER Get off! Get off! Get off!
1706:43.5
KLM FIRST OFFICER V-1.
1706:44.0
[PH-BUF (KLM 4805) starts rotation.]
1706:47.4
KLM CAPTAIN Oh shit!
1706:48
PAN AM CAPTAIN Oh god damn!
1706:49.7
PH-BUF (KLM 4805) records sound of collision.
1706:50
N736PA (Pan Am 1736) records sound of collision.
Cockpit and ATC tower communications
These communications are taken from the cockpit voice recorders of both aircraft, as well as from the Tenerife control tower's tapes.
1705:36–1706:50
1705:36.7
[KLM first officer completes pre-flight checklist. KLM 4805 is now at the end of the runway, in position for departure.]
1705:41.5
KLM FIRST OFFICER Wait a minute, we don't have an ATC clearance. [This statement is apparently a response to an advancing of the throttles in the KLM.]
KLM CAPTAIN No, I know that, go ahead, ask.
1705:44.6–1705:50.8
KLM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) The KLM four eight zero five is now ready for take-off and we are waiting for our ATC clearance.
1705:53.4–1706:08.1
TENERIFE TOWER KLM eight seven zero five [sic] you are cleared to the Papa beacon, climb to and maintain flight level nine zero, right turn after take-off, proceed with heading four zero until intercepting the three two five radial from Las Palmas VOR.
1706:07.4
KLM CAPTAIN Yes.
1706:09.6–1706:17.8
KLM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) Ah roger, sir, we are cleared to the Papa beacon flight level nine zero, right turn out zero four zero until intercepting the three two five. We are now at take-off [or "uh..taking off"].
1706:11.1
[KLM brakes released.]
1706:12.3
KLM CAPTAIN We gaan ... check thrust. [We're going ... check thrust.]
1706:14.0
[Engine acceleration audible in KLM cockpit.]
1706:18.2–1706:21.2
TENERIFE TOWER OK.... Stand by for take-off, I will call you. [Only the start of this message could be heard clearly by the KLM crew due to radio interference.]
1706:19.3
PAN AM CAPTAIN No... uh.
1706:20.3
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) And we're still taxiing down the runway, the clipper one seven three six. [This message is not heard completely clearly by the KLM crew due to radio interference.]
1706:25.5
TENERIFE TOWER Ah, Papa Alpha one seven three six, report the runway clear.
1706:29.6
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER (RADIO) OK, we'll report when (we are) clear.
1706:31.7
TENERIFE TOWER Thank you. [This was the last radio communication involving the two aircraft. Everything that follows is intra-cockpit communication amongst the respective crews.]
1706:32–1706:40
1706:32.1
PAN AM CAPTAIN Let's get the hell out of here.
1706:34.9
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER Yeah, he's anxious, isn't he?
1706:36.2
PAN AM FLIGHT ENGINEER Yeah, after he held us up for an hour and a half, that bastard. Now he's in a rush.
1706:32.4
KLM FLIGHT ENGINEER Is hij er niet af dan? [Is he not clear, then?]
1706:34.1
KLM CAPTAIN Wat zeg je? [What do you say?]
1706:34.2
KLM UNKNOWN Yup.
1706:34.7
KLM FLIGHT ENGINEER Is hij er niet af, die Pan American? [Is he not clear, that Pan American?]
1706:35.7
KLM CAPTAIN Jawel. [Oh yes. (emphatic)]
1706:40–1706:50
1706:40.5
[Pan Am captain sees the KLM's landing lights at approx. 700 m.]
1706:40.6
PAN AM CAPTAIN There he is ... look at him. Goddamn that son-of-a-bitch is coming!
1706:45.9
PAN AM FIRST OFFICER Get off! Get off! Get off!
1706:43.5
KLM FIRST OFFICER V-1.
1706:44.0
[PH-BUF (KLM 4805) starts rotation.]
1706:47.4
KLM CAPTAIN Oh shit!
1706:48
PAN AM CAPTAIN Oh god damn!
1706:49.7
PH-BUF (KLM 4805) records sound of collision.
1706:50
N736PA (Pan Am 1736) records sound of collision.
