Originally Posted by Hot Rod Wannabe

Think about the A/C as well. The profile was being followed, but loss of sit awarness was key. Everyone is going to slam the pilots, and some blame is deserved. But don't forget the environment as well. Severe Icing forecast and SLD was present. The co-pilot was jabbering like a monkey about the ice build up. If the had all ice protection on and they were still picking up ice, then it was SLD period. In any event it should have been, "get the heck" out of there. The captian didn't notice that the A/C slowed because the auto pilot had trimmed the airplane tail to a maximum nose up position and when the pilots received the shaker the capt slammed the throttles forward producing a 20 degree nose up... remember the auto pilot trimmed max nose up based on power settings. Then the airplaned stalled probably tucked a wing due to ice again and well the rest we know. It is easy to second guess but situationally the crew was way behind and it bit them. I'm sure the new legislation will all make us safer in the end. I'm sure 1500 hours will make all pilots bullet proof and able to save all passengers from terrible accidents from ever happening. I wonder why ALPA signed off on the new HR 3371 so fast?

Originally Posted by Purpleanga

Ok and on the other hand Colgan hired a squeaky clean FO CFI which anyone would have hired that raised the flaps at 20 degrees pitch up during a stall when she should have been beating on the guy severly to get the nose over to pick up airspeed.

Originally Posted by Cycle Pilot

The DFDR shows the position of the yoke during the flight and is displayed on the video. The video obviously shows that he pulled back on the yoke.

Originally Posted by captjns

And if these two were paid, let's say $200.00 an hour, would the out come be different. Doubtful.

Originally Posted by newarkblows

Its not any one thing that caused the accident but the collective cluster that is Colgans operation that caused the accident. The deck was stacked against the crew from the get go. Colgan and a few other companies skate by with just the minimum and when it goes TU everyone looks at each other like they are surprised.

The company truly is one of the worst i have seen and heard of in this industry. It isnt a small airline anymore and it has been a long time coming that they got their act together.