The Shoreham air crash.

Capt Lightning

Capt Lightning

Well-known Member
Location
Historic Buchan, Scotland
The pilot of an ex-military jet which crashed during an Airshow in 2015 on to a busy major road and killing 11 people, has been acquitted of all charges. He was attempting a 'bent loop' at too low a speed and altitude when the crash occurred. He was thrown clear and survived.

The pilot (an ex-RAF fighter pilot and a British Airways captain at the time) was said to have been 'impaired' possibly by excessive 'G' forces.

Needless to say, relatives of the victims feel that he has escaped justice.
 

I agree with the relatives.
 

When I first saw the live footage on news broadcasts at the time I thought it bore all the hallmarks of g forces, and I still believe that. Equipment failure, in the form of his anti-g suit.

He has, not unusually, can remember nothing, but I suspect he found himself inadvertently below safety height (even experts can make mistakes, doesn't automatically make then criminally negligent), overpulled it and greyed out. Sow me a fast jet pilot who says they've never done it and I'll show you a liar.
 
I don’t doubt the pilot’s ability as an aviator and I don’t judge him as to whether he is or was negligent. What I do question is his judgment to perform stunt flying anywhere near public roads or buildings.

Over the years, there have been many accidents at air shows that have killed many participants and observers. When stunts such as the ones that this pilot was performing, “all” precautions should have been taken in order to minimize the risks.

I watched the video and I thought the pilot showed great ability. However, I also thought about the fatalities and their families. In my opinion, they are due something to help them with their loss. Since they did not get justice, perhaps if they sued the pilot, the show producers and the management company, it may help. In this case, it wouldn’t be about the money to put in his pocket, but making them spend their money sometimes is also a punishment. In the end, to do nothing, would just be wrong.
 
oldman said:
I don’t doubt the pilot’s ability as an aviator and I don’t judge him as to whether he is or was negligent. What I do question is his judgment to perform stunt flying anywhere near public roads or buildings.

Over the years, there have been many accidents at air shows that have killed many participants and observers. When stunts such as the ones that this pilot was performing, “all” precautions should have been taken in order to minimize the risks.

I watched the video and I thought the pilot showed great ability. However, I also thought about the fatalities and their families. In my opinion, they are due something to help them with their loss. Since they did not get justice, perhaps if they sued the pilot, the show producers and the management company, it may help. In this case, it wouldn’t be about the money to put in his pocket, but making them spend their money sometimes is also a punishment. In the end, to do nothing, would just be wrong.
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Exactly so.

Those who should have faced prosecution are those who licensed an airshow in such a place, without a proper risk assessment.

Don't forget this was not a case of an individual pilot deciding to blast round the sky but a properly organised display (in fact an annual event) for which admission was charged. The road should have been closed.

They were looking for a scapegoat, and they thought they had found one, but twelve good persons and true decided that he was not it.

As an ex Health & Safety Officer I'd love to get a look at the Risk Assessment, compulsory under EU law.
 
Laurie said:
Exactly so.

Those who should have faced prosecution are those who licensed an airshow in such a place, without a proper risk assessment.

Don't forget this was not a case of an individual pilot deciding to blast round the sky but a properly organised display (in fact an annual event) for which admission was charged. The road should have been closed.

They were looking for a scapegoat, and they thought they had found one, but twelve good persons and true decided that he was not it.

As an ex Health & Safety Officer I'd love to get a look at the Risk Assessment, compulsory under EU law.
Click to expand...
I think they have this airshow at the same place every year....I could be wrong...
 
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