[Peetwo]

Out loud thinking.

I have now watched the video of the Mallard crash several times; you can, in a simulator recreate the scenario, with pretty much the same results. Low and slow, power down and a desperate, last gasp attempt to align with a runway. Even in the sim it is a dreadful feeling as the aircraft just slips away, controls ineffective, the crash inevitable. The last seconds of life must have been horrendous for the crew.  

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”

It makes me sad, but also angry – I want to know why this happened. I fully understand the aerodynamics and the factual stuff; in spades. But non of that explains why the aircraft was placed in an untenable situation. I can fully understand the motivation – get the job done; but I fail to understand why a competent, experienced pilot would try to ‘screw’ the aircraft through the eye of a very fine mathematical needle.

IMO, one of the important messages to be drummed into a pilot’s mind is selection of priority – staying alive being the primary, in fact the only message which matters, when trumps turn to shite.  Instinct (natural or learned) should have been screaming – ‘go around’, let's drag our collectives arses out of this aerodynamic sling. What reason could trump the organisms self preservation instinct? What could overrule the basic tenets of aerodynamic law, taught to the neophyte from day one?

In my fuzzy way, I keep coming back one reason – the ‘box’. An artificial, strictly enforced imaginary barrier which, should you stray out of its confines, carries penalties. Aerobat pilots understand these barriers, very well indeed and spend literally many, many hours perfecting the skill needed to execute ‘ragged edge’ manoeuvres within the specified dimensions; for to stray could cost them the completion. Same – same for the ‘air-show’ crews; any impingement on ‘the box’ is likely to end with ‘approval’ suspended or even revoked; so the ‘box’ matters.

A little adrenalin, a little excitement, a little distraction, a little ‘get it done’, a little anticipation of cold drinks, Australia Day BBQ and the applause of the crowd could that, possibly, influence even the most experienced, disciplined of minds?

Aye well, I don’t know the answers. But I do know that ‘bugger the box’ and damn the consequences would have been high on my priority list; following survival. Anyway, ‘tis a sad thing, particularly for those close, left behind with every Australia day a painful reminder. Let’s just hope some good comes from this tragedy and we find the right answers to prevent a repeat.

Selah

P2 - "K" just a bit more information to cogitate on, via news.com.au:

Plane crash pilot shared concerned texts with friend hours before fatal plunge[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/089ebbe48e43bd45508edcf2e0e4d645?esi=true&t_template=s3/chronicle-tg_tlc_storyheader/index&t_product=CourierMail&td_device=desktop[/img]

From Additional Senate Estimates 27 February 2017: Senator Back questions Comardy on Swan River Mallard accident, via Senate & Youtube:

MTF...P2