On january 13, 1982, a severe storm hit Washington, D.C. The temperature fell to the mid-teens. Driving snow it hard to see. Flights out of Washington's National Airport were delayed snowplows cleared the runways. Air Florida Flight 90, with its 79 passengers, was no exception. It was originally to depart at 2:15 p.m. Clearing the runways, however, over an hour. At 3:37, the pilot was finally allowed to move the plane into position for , but 15 other planes were lined up ahead of it. Another 20 minutes went before Flight 90 could roll out onto the runway. While Flight 90 was for the runways to be plowed, the ice that had formed on its wings was removed. new ice began to form immediately. As the pilot waited for the 15 other planes to take off, the ice grew . Ice buildup on a plane's wings is dangerous. It makes the plan heavier and disturbs the normal flow of air over the winds. Despite the fresh layer of ice, Flight 90 roared down the runway when it's turn came at 3:59 p.m. As the jet took off, it shuddered. was wrong. It was not gaining altitude as it should. One of the passengers, who was also a pilot, said, "we're not going to make it."