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Post by End Zone on Nov 14, 2022 13:42:36 GMT -7
Reference Twitter video feed. This video is hard for me to watch. The collision was totally avoidable. The ATC (air traffic controller) definitely should not have allowed the highspeed P63 fighter to be in the same airspace as the much slower B17 bomber. FAA knows exactly who was controlling the airspace. The collision resulted in 6 deaths on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2022. Several brave US veterans perished in a flash. RIP.
The B17 is making a slow left turn at about 500' altitude above the airfield. I know from cockpit experience that the B17 pilot (left seat) can see forward and left side only. His copilot (right seat) can see forward and right side only. Areas below the B17 nose, below the wings, and any aft threats are out of the two pilots direct views.
The solo P63 pilot approaches the airfield at about 500' at highspeed. The P63 is making a banking left turn. Because of the long nose of the P63 and fuselage underwings, the P63 cannot see the B17.
We used to call this situation "Two BBs hitting each other from different directions." Hard to do, but it happens when people are not paying attention.
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Post by End Zone on Nov 17, 2022 5:59:31 GMT -7
The author of this 30-minute YT video does an excellent job at assessing that the pilot of the highspeed P63 did not see the slower B17 due to the known fighter aircraft blind spots (nose and wings block forward view), possible P63 pilot eye-ball tracking a leading P=51 Mustang fighter ahead and in the airshow formation, possible excessive P63 flight speed causing him to overshoot safe air corridor limits, possible P63 structural limitation risks, and the possibility of induced stall risks. My first assessment was P-63 blind spots. The author provides additional thorough video data, details, and analysis. This is definitely worth a review if you are an aviation buff.
FAA has turned over the midair collision investigation to the US NTSB the day of the collision, November 11, 2022. NTSB will publish an interim assessment likely within 60-90 days. A final NTSB assessment could take a year or more to publish. RIP six aircrew. All are heros.
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Post by thomas cat on Nov 18, 2022 19:46:30 GMT -7
I'm glad you made this second post. At first glance, it looked like the P63 pilot was a complete idiot. I'm not saying there is no blame there, but it's not as clear cut as it seems. As you say he had a blind spot along with other mitigating circumstances as to why this could happen. That video you posted was excellent and I'm glad it rebutted some of the crap that some were saying. I have mentioned this show before Air Disasters. In one episode, there was a very similar crash involving a collision of a small plane and a commercial plane. It too involved a blind spot as part of the cause. In almost all airplane crashes, there are multiple things that went wrong....rarely is it just one thing.
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Post by FLCardinalFan on Nov 25, 2022 2:02:43 GMT -7
The part of the video where the narrator calls out the pilot being right over the widest part of the wing with obstructed view says a lot.
Long nose, cock pit assembly
Another thing is we have to realize that even though these a great experienced pilots many of us may not have the vision we once did. I know I don't.
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Post by End Zone on Dec 16, 2022 10:22:32 GMT -7
Here at the You Tube video, the horrible B17 and P63 mid-air accident in November 2022 is explained in a preliminary assessment and draft report. Per airfield recorded communications, the airshow's Air Boss, aka on-scene air controller on the ground, directed the faster P63 fighter to cross the flight lane being used by the slower B17 bomber and other slower aircraft. This Air Boss direct command during the airshow was not part of the air show pre-brief that morning. Hence, a "dumb, dangerous, and different" commanded action occurred surprising everyone in the air and resulting in the two-plane collision and 5 deaths.
The pilots and passengers were not at fault. The NTSB investigation continues.
RIP.
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