Originally Posted by bongodriver (Post 337299)

Can you provide evidence that backs this up? or is it just an oppinion, if the reasons for the accident turns out to be not pilot error but a serious mechanical failure can you explain how age is relevant?

you 'may' have a point with the crowd line proximity, but then what choices are we left with? ban air shows? put the crowd so far away that the whole point is defeated......as tragic as the event is, if things get regulated out of existense because a few people die once in a blue moon then there is practically no point to life because it would be so damned boring, let's all live in protected bubbles where no harm can ever come to us.

Originally Posted by Sternjaeger II (Post 337306)

this is already being discussed in the Lounge, but anyway check this pic guys

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-201_162-...=page;previous

the pilot is not in view, that's never a good sign.. considering the steep angle at which he's coming down, it's likely he's leaning on the stick.

Originally Posted by diveplane (Post 337308)

already posted this up

Originally Posted by bongodriver (Post 337312)

Exactly!.....it is pure speculation at this time......sadly the aftermath looks like it is going to give little information as the impact seems to have left very little to examine....but I noticed something particularily stange with the image, the tailwheel is in the extended position, normally this is fully retracted, that immediately makes me suspect mechanical failure, the fact the pilot is not visible is extremely tenuous evidence, the cockpit is highly modified and the pilot is barely visible under normal circumstances.

Originally Posted by Sternjaeger II (Post 337314)

yeah, noticed the tailwheel too. The servo is hydraulic and connected to the main landing gear hydraulic line. Another wild guess of mine could be that he accidentally hit the emergency gear release, but the main gears didn't open cos he's pitching down and diving.

You'd still be able to see the head Bongo, these guys are well strapped in.

Originally Posted by Sternjaeger II (Post 337314)

yeah, noticed the tailwheel too. The servo is hydraulic and connected to the main landing gear hydraulic line. Another wild guess of mine could be that he accidentally hit the emergency gear release, but the main gears didn't open cos he's pitching down and diving.

You'd still be able to see the head Bongo, these guys are well strapped in.

Originally Posted by Feathered_IV (Post 337323)

Awful. :(

Was rather shocked to hear the pilot was 74 years old. I'm curious what age one has to be before they actually become too old to fly souped-up fighters at breakneck speed on the deck.