HoodaThunk?

In the continuing investigation of CO3407 after its crash in a Buffalo neighborhood more evidence has come to light indicating that pilot error, not ice, might have been the proximate cause. According to investigators, the data recorder shows that the aircraft slowed down during its approach. It slowed so much, in fact, that the ship began to stall. (See here for an explanation of the term “stall” in aviation terms.) There are safety devices on modern aircraft to warn a pilot of an impending stall and to attempt corrective action should the pilot fail to do so.

When a plane slows to the point where a stall is becoming probable the aircraft’s “stick shaker” will cause the pilot’s control yoke to shake. That’s literally a wake-up call to get the pilot to focus on the aircraft’s attitude in the air (its pitch, bank and yaw) and its airspeed. Should the plane continue to slow, the “stick pusher” engages and pushes the control yoke forward in an effort to drop the nose and pick up airspeed. According to the investigations thus far, both systems were working and both were active in the final moments of the flight. In short, the plane was stalling and the systems attempted to correct the situation. The latest evidence appears to show that the pilot’s actions defeated both systems and might have precipitated a full stall. This is consistent with evidence already uncovered that the plane actually crashed into the house in a flat attitude as opposed to diving into it.

Investigators are continuing their work and they – and I – caution against making a conculsive decision about this crash until they’ve completed their investigation. More to come as more comes available.