[Doe Eyes]

From History.com:

Over the course of the trial, it was found that the plane was flying at speeds in excess of 500 miles per hour--faster than military regulations allow--when it hit the cable car wire.

The cable car wire hung at 260 feet, over 700 feet below the military-approved altitude of 1,000 feet.

Additionally, it came out in the trial that the military-issued map that the pilots were using did not show the cable car.

[Balding_Eagle]

Thanks, I hadn't heard that. Puts it in a different light.

[Garvin]

Max speed of an EA6B prowler is 533 knots or 613 mph (at sea level) (That's with no Pods or drop tanks, they create a lot of drag). I was in Aviano, Italy (Operation Deny Flight) in the squadron (VMAQ-1)that was there prior to the incident. EA6B Aircraft never flew without Pods or drops unless it was a test flight. Rumor mill has it they were practicing Low Altitude Tactics (LAT's) (Enemy Evasion), and didn't know the cable was there. Saw pics of the Aircraft. Tuff airframe made by Grumman Aircraft Corporation was the only reason it made it back. They are nicknamed Grumman Iron Works for their tuff Airframes. As can be seen in this picture. Tech Rep (Mad Max McDonald)standing on hole from Missile in outer wing of Marine Corps A-6E Intruder.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Subject aircraft had a defective radar altimeter as well.