As Colonel Sherman Potter would put it: "Bull hockey". Sure, it didn't cause the accident, but it sure as hell didn't help prevent it. Inattention to details, not paying enough attention, not being proactive.

The ATR could then, and can now, handle ice. It cannot handle what can only be described as an extreme, freak icing event. I would be no more afraid to fly an ATR in ice then any other aircraft.

If you don't pay attention to what is going on and take steps to prevent catastrophe, the hand of God may well smack you down.

I understand the desire to say it wasn't totally the fault of the crew (quite rare for the FAA, actually) but its unrealistic to say they weren't a link in that chain. It would be like saying that the crash of Delta 191 was attributable to the L-1011 and the crew had nothing to do with it.

In training I had an instructor that was in the holding pattern 2,000' above 4184. Same type of plane, similar conditions, same holding pattern, he heard them on ATC. I though he was an immense ass when he said, "If I was in that plane that accident wouldn't have happened." Cocky. Arrogant. Rude. I think he had a point though - he was well aware of what was going on at the time and was paying attention.

Agreed. If you don't click the autopilot off and hand fly - how are you going to know what's going on? If the autopilot is slowly trimming control pressure off how are you going to know if you don't constantly check the trim indicators? Fly the plane - they're all designed to hand fly.