http://www.usatoday.com/travel/fligh...8-comair_N.htm

 

Well I dont disagree with alot of what she says. However the PIC is ultimately responsible. Are others at the very least contributors..probably. But thats why he sat in the left seat to take the responsibility, to make the right decisions, to calculate the odds sometimes. No one ever said it was easy, or blameless.

 

I find it interesting how loved ones can never face the truth about that person's responsibility in their own death. It's always someone else's fault.

 

I do find it a blessing. A blessing since the vultures can't come after him. Look at the co-pilot that lived....the vultures are coming after him for their blood money. I'd rather be dead too.

 

I agree with you 100%. FAR's state that the PIC has full command and authority over his/her craft and crew without limitation. That specifically includes taking an airplane to the correct runway...and for whatever reason he didn't. The f/o being second in command didn't notice or correct that problem either. You sometimes here controllers jokingly say that they are the ones that are in control of an airplane, but we all know its the two individuals up front. As pilots, we have all made simple mistakes in the cockpit and can appreciate how terribly wrong things can go under the right circumstances.

Having said all that, my heart goes out to her and to the f/o. They both have a long road ahead. After losing her husband and their children losing their father, hearing the findings of the NTSB in federal court has to hurt more than throwing salt on an open wound. There is simply no good outcome for anyone involved in this tragedy. It may not have taken the most lives, but in my opinion, its still one of the worst because it could have been so easily prevented. May he and everyone else who passed that day rest in peace!

 

more importantly, lets all learn from it so it does not happen again. If we are ever rushed, or if ATC is trying to rush us, slow down and do things right.

 

There sure seems to be a huge number of "Monday morning" quarterbacks in this site. You guys need to give it a rest...particularly those of you that are new or have never flown in a 121 environment. You guys don't have a clue what flying exhausted as result of reduce rest is all about. Further more, I have been to LEX quite a few times, and I can tell you folks, that due to the slope on the short runway, any number of folks could have made the same mistake...if you think you're impervious to such mistakes, then you definitely do not belong in this industry.

Let the memory of this poor guy, and his family be, this could have happened to any of us.

 

I am not so sure how easily this accident could have been prevented.

My guess, if I might take a stab at armchair quarterbacking, is that they were in a rush to takeoff... I wonder if that is where the "cowboy" comments she quotes of one NTSB investigator come from? We all do it, after all. We all look up to the Southwest dudes who taxi at rotation speed. Heck, how many times have you been breathing down the apu pipe of an aircraft in front, jockying for takeoff? How many times have you been the CA pressing your FO to finish the danmed checklist... or on the other side of that process of being rushed?

I was an FO paired with a "Hat-Captain" on a trip through LAS. The airport was turned around for RWYs 7 and 1 which is very rare. You know what I mean if you fly through there. Well, taxiway indications are sketchy at best, and we had to taxi on unfamiliar routes. The CA was doing his SWA taxi, and we saw the hold-short bars for RWY 7L at the last second. He had to plant the brakes. We ALMOST had an incursion.

I used to rush as a CA until a SNAFU at Littlerock. A Herc was on short final and we were cleared for TO. I took the bait, and the Herc had to go around. It ended up to be no big deal, but I filed a NASA form anyhow. Now I taxi like grandma, and I bet I **** off everyone at ATL. Too bad, so sad; but, I am not going to be "that guy". Call me what you want- I can take that hit. The hit I can't take is "Responsible for 51 deaths".

For good reading on this topic, or just a method to overcome insomnia:
Tony Kern, Redefining Airmanship
or his other book Flight Discipline

 

i myself agree with what the NTSB came up with, as far as it being the fault of the pilots. However, i wasn't there when the rulings were being decided, i don't know how the NTSB came to the conclusion, but it was a mistake, a simple mistake that could have happened to anyone, none of us are above it. However, as she stated, there are many problems along the route from that ramp area to the runway, lots of links in the chain that if any had been broken, i wouldn't be writing this. If ATC turned around and said, "check your heading boys" , if the FO noticed the difference, if someone said "ATC, how about some lights down here" ... anything, could have changed the entire outcome. My heart goes out to the family of the victims including the FO, i wish NONE of us the same fate...fly safe.

 

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.