Posted on 02/19/2009 5:19:10 AM PST by GBA
Flight Data Show Response to Loss of Speed Resulted in Deadly Stall That Downed Plane
Investigators examining last week's Continental Connection plane crash have gathered evidence that pilot commands -- not a buildup of ice on the wings and tail -- likely initiated the fatal dive of the twin-engine Bombardier Q400 into a neighborhood six miles short of the Buffalo, N.Y., airport, according to people familiar with the situation.
The commuter plane slowed to an unsafe speed as it approached the airport, causing an automatic stall warning, these people said. The pilot pulled back sharply on the plane's controls and added power instead of following the proper procedure of pushing forward to lower the plane's nose to regain speed, they said. He held the controls there, locking the airplane into a deadly stall, they added.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
The scary part is there are not enough like him around...
...the lives of ALL these people were at the hands of less experienced pilots.
I never liked flying, but at this point I’m about ready to give it up. I have simply lost faith in my fellow countrymen to do anything right. The Sullenbergers of the world are too few and far between. Perhaps a dwindling breed altogether. I simply don’t trust anyone else with my life. De-evolution is in full swing.
It's interesting, but possible misleading, when they disclose all these details piece by piece. I understand why they do it, but it makes it so easy to misinterpret what's being released. So much of the early info tends to point to pilot error and by the time the final report comes out two years later it's reported on page 8a and no one ever gets the story that it wasn't necessarily pilot error after all.
this makes it sound like the pilot had personal problems and a big life insurance policy ...
A grand piano, if dropped from sufficient altitude, would fall only 400 feet in (a full) five seconds.
ML/NJ
“...Seems me there’s got to be something we don’t know yet...”
Agree. As an old flight test type, something in this description does not compute. Since virtually everything I’ve ever experienced has been badly explained by “reporters”, methinks we should let the investigating group do their thing. I’ve been on accident investigation teams, and they’re good. Very good.
If he was flying the plane. But then he wouldn't allow the airspeed to drop anywhere close to stall either.
ML/NJ
Most grand pianos don’t have jet engines strapped to them
Or was it the 24 yr old woman?....just asking
Well, it appears she had more stick time in that particular aircraft than he did. At least, according to the story.
As a Commercial pilot myself I fully agree with your assessment jwparkerjr. I think airspeed/attitude was demonstrated in my first lesson not the second. Guess I had a good instructor back in 1974.
Stalling? Add power, drop the nose, add power, drop the nose.
How in hell could someone get a commercial pilot license and not be trained to the point of instinct to react properly to a stall condition?
“appears she had more stick time in that particular aircraft than he did.”
She was also a pilot instructor.
You too, eh?
The aircraft was flown down at 2Gs for those 800 feet.
I stopped flying the turboprops years ago. I don’t like the way they get tossed around in turbulence, and it seems that the less experienced pilots are flying them for the carriers.
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