Horrific air crash

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for your insights as an aviator, history buff and collector, Lang

Originally Posted by Lang

Here is a magnificent detailed look at the B17 involved in the accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpBBbhzlL8

That's poignant footage as the maker of that video, Kevin "K5" Michels and two of the crew on that flight, Leonard "Len" Root and Curt Rowe died in the crash of Texas Raiders. See the rest of the airmen involved in the tragic accident at Wings Over Dallas on the Commemorative Airforce website: https://commemorativeairforce.org/ne...-the-kingcobra

I'd say they died doing what they loved most, apart from being a pal, friend, father, husband, son to their loved ones. May they rest in peace.

[maple_leaf_eh]

The armchair analysts have been all over this accident.

One of the more informed observers I've seen suggested the bombers were in one stream with about 1000 ft off the spectator line, and the fighters about 1500 ft off. The P63 was third of the fighters, and he seems to have been closing too fast on the second fighter. The suggestion is he backed off by widening his turn. At closing speeds, that put the P63 into the bombers' track.

For the HMV crowd, I draw the lesson of speed and direction control, especially when moving in convoys or packets. When the Swords and Plowshares Museum puts its vehicles on the road for Canada Day parades, the experienced drivers keep reminding the others that drum brakes aren't as responsive as disks and turn signals are either tiny or done by hand. There is another column characteristic of accordioning with the last few vehicles either hard on the gas or standing on the brake pedal.

[Lang]

Terry

The Crowd Line is a legal distance (differs in different countries) away from the do-not-cross Display Line. The aircraft have no interest in the Crowd Line all their attention is focused on the Display Line which is always very well marked eg a taxiway, canal, airfield boundary fence or large white panels.

Aircraft may not turn towards or fly over the crowd. Any flight over the crowd can not involve manouevres or be part of a show and is usually a straight line above 1,500 feet such as the arrival of a formation from the rear for effect. Most shows will not allow even this.

Mass loose flypasts are almost impossible to accurately separate horizontally.

It would be very unusual for two groups arriving on different paths to be separated horizontally at the same height. In fact I would go so far as to say never.

One other thing you must remember, particularly with fighters, is these aircraft are often flown by wealthy geriatrics well past their prime. Time and again you can tell from their operation and radio calls they are so far behind the aircraft and what is going on around them that they may as well be still on the ground. They can pass a check ride when nothing stressful is happening, operating in a show with others providing surprises around you is another thing. Nearly all of them have giant egos and don't know when to quit. The bombers on the other hand are also often ancient-mariner piloted but they have the benefit of a second opinion and many extra eyes looking out.

Groups can be very accurately separated vertically and I believe in this case they were and somebody got it wrong.

Lang

[Lang]

Here is a review of the official investigation.

Looks like the Air Boss (Show Director) is for the high jump!


https://youtu.be/IRVqg-pCb6o

[rob love]

Someone on that youtube commented that this was the air bosses first show, having taken over from his father who was the previous air boss and retired the year before. The same commenter mentions that the breifing did not give any vertical separation as well as other shortcomings. There were experienced pilots in the room as well as the FAA rep and nobody raised a concern. I guess nobody wanted to be "that guy".



So with the change of lines for the two types of craft (given during the flying pattern no less), and no vertical separation given, the control of airspace was gone. Or was it ever there during this portion of the exhibition? It was dangerous before the line change, it became deadly with the line change.

[maple_leaf_eh]

First analysis of the National Transportation Safety Board interim report is that the Air Boss' briefed a plan that broke traditional separations. Instead of keeping the five slow bombers on one line and the three faster fighters on a line further from the crowd. His plan had the fighters changing lines. Two of the fighters were ahead of the bombers when the P63 was making his change. Unfortunately he crossed through the B17's track in his blind spot and the two made contact. Watch for the final report to scorch the Air Boss.