@ttyymmnn said in NTSB releases preliminary findings in Dallas warbird crash:
I don't think that discussing the crash or speculating about possible causes is disrespectful to the lost pilots.
‘... As @drVanTraveler said, ultimate responsibility lies with the Cobra pilot who was in command of his ship’
‘Air boss directs a risky maneuver, plane hits drone, plane crashes into other plane’
‘… without an altitude separation The air boss better find an attorney.’
So it's entirely possible that none of the above is the root cause. Perhaps there was a mechanical failure, or a mechanical failure caused by the P63 hitting the drone or whatever object was up there. The death of six people was then wrongly attributed to specific individuals by us in our discussion. I don't think that is good, nor fair.
'The NTSB et al will do their investigation, and we will discuss again when it comes out next year.'
Yes, and that is the appropriate time to discuss; when fault has been determined by the experts, and the responsibility for the death of six people is no longer being speculated on by those of us that likely don't have all the data. At that point they typically share the pertinent facts and the rest of us can see the whole picture.
The NTSB often releases preliminary info when they believe there is something to be shared that may benefit others, in this case, other air show flights. I am sure every other air show is reviewing how they do their formation flights right now. Even if what transpired here is less than the best practice it may or may not be the primary cause in their final report and the responsibility for the deaths may not follow.
I believe it's not fair to the potentially innocent, dead or alive, to attribute the deaths to them. Certainly when we are doing so on less than complete data.