Does anybody know whether the P3 was taking off or landing when the accident occured?

I have trouble understanding how this could happen, the P3 is such a strong performer, both in flight and on the ground.
With those very large props and strong brakes (though not anti-skid protected), how can one go off the runway?

ewsp...:(

It was landing and many things can go wrong during any phase of flight. I've heard there was a pitchlocked prop involved but that comes from ready room talk, second hand info no doubt.

That would do it...we had a Hawkeye go into the weeds for the same thing a couple years ago - Prop pitchlocked on a PEL to a full-stop and when they went into reverse it just took off.

Obviously, the Commodore didn't like something that was going on - I've known 2 CO's to get fired when it became apparent that command climate had directly caused a mishap.

Spongebob

Gents,

Yes the P-3 is a strong airplane and very forgiving. But, VQ-2 parked a perfectly good airplane off the end of a 12k runway in Crete in 1997. Nothing wrong with the airplane. Just bad crew coordination, command climate and poor training practices. Many lessons were learned.

CO being relieved. Rumor has it that the CO was at the controls. Lack on confidence by the Commodore for the Skipper is what caused the CO to be relieved.

Yeah, and the VQ-2 CO (Single Anchor type) was in the cockpit sitting on the radar cabinet when Ranger 25 departed the runway way back when. He ended up being the CO of NAS Whidbey when I was there. Guess his career turned out alright:)

Would that be a VAW-120 pilot? I was there for that, the 120 IP was giving a NATOPS check down in St. Augustine on a brand new E-2C...or at least thats what I recall. I had one pitchlock in the pattern at Miramar and at 105.8, I easily heard it before looking at the rpm.

I'm sure the location of this incident contributes to the lack of info. Also, I would imagine that since pics of the Whidbey ClassA were on the internet the day it happened has something to do with the info lockdown. ...As well as it being a Projects bird.

I've heard "currency" mentioned as a factor. Two P-3 class A's within 3 months??? Whidbey was pilot error and 100% avoidable, regardless of what the Hazrep says. If this latest one is similar in nature, I'm sure the commodore had no tolerance or leaway for consideration, especially if the CO was onboard/PPC/PAC.

Unfortunetly 70-80% of all mishaps are human error and probably avoidable. Two Class A mishaps in a short period is not a good sign. VAW-120 had 5 Class A's and 1 Class B in a period 4 years with 3 lives lost. Only one of the Class A's was mechanical failure (though maintainer failure) and one A and the B were due to student mistakes with the IP trying to save the plane.

ducgsxr,

The CO was a double anchor type.

For the AF guys, what's a "double anchor?"