Sanchez... since I started the commenting I will presume you to be talking about me. Well..I have flown 121, and I have flown reduced rest, Hell my friend I have flown NO rest during military ops. I have seen alot and made plenty of mistakes in my time flying. As stated, there are numerous things which could have altered the outcome of this situation, but the bottom line and one in which the NTSB is right in asserting blame is that the pilots attempted a takeoff from not just the WRONG runway but an unlit one at that. That sir is pilot error. Plain and simple. Plenty of blame to go around on all of the surrounding issues but the fact is he signed for the jet, that makes HIM responsible for the GOOD and the BAD. Its also a fact that in this business when accidents occur blame is assigned, someone or something will take the heat. I have had the unpleasant fortune of seeing several aircraft accidents up close and personal. Some were pilot error, others were mechanical in nature. KC-135 Spokane Washington 1987....PILOT ERROR. C-130E Lapes extraction accident POPE AFB, 1987, PILOT ERROR ( for the record I lost 4 good friends in that accident ), F-5 1986, Williams AFB, Mexican Student forgot to configure....stalled in final turn..... WHILE I was turning xwind... PILOT ERROR. HEAVY EQUIPMENT extraction accident 1989 POPE AF, LOADMASTER ERROR, several dead!!! While all tragedies and we can empathize with the families left behind, the cause of the accidents still remain.

My point is that the cold hard facts are that in many accidents it IS pilot or crew error which is the leading cause of the accident. EVERY pilot has made mistakes, thank god that most of us learn from them and in that process no one was hurt. Sometimes it doesnt work out that way. I empathize with the families of those left behind, but what good would it do to deflect the blame to spare feelings. The hope is that we all can learn from such things and hope and pray that they dont happen again.