Here. Yes, it is now July and this report seems later than most we see. Please understand that this is a complex case as regards who does what, when. It was an aircraft owned by a corporation, performing contract work for the government as a “civil public aircraft operation,” for the Navy, and the mishap occurred on Navy (DOD) property. This is a far cry from an airliner that may skid off a snow-covered runway, or a small, piston-engine aircraft that loses an engine and manages to make it to land in a farmer’s field.
Those of you who have skin the game, either directly, emotionally or through some connection or another, all I can counsel is patience. I can tell you that the people involved in this one all want to do it the right way. To honor Lex’s legacy. And because they care.
Hard link here: http://dms.ntsb.gov/aviation/AccidentReports/qlyrmi55s1tupo55ft2m3b451/C07282012120000.pdf
Comjam – one thing I have noticed about the NTSB over the years – is that when all the hoopla and speculation has died in the media – about a year later the report will come with just the facts – and no speculation – usually different from what all the media “experts” were saying –
In reading that preliminary report I was surprised that Lex was aloft only about 1.5 hours and ran out of fuel – is the Kfir that short range? Or more likely they didn’t fill it all the way for better maneuverability?
I think Lex did the best with the lousy situation he was facing – that is all any pilot can hope.
Comjam, when I followed your link, it led to a 3-page pdf document that repeats the narrative that has been posted on the NTSB Accident Website since mid-March. I guess I’m not seeing what’s new about this recently-linked report?
Mitch, this is only a “Preliminary Report”. I have known people on the NTSB team and there is a good reason to let things calm down before issuing any kind of report.
Sadly, I believe Lex did the best he could with a lousy hand of cards that he was dealt. I also believe that he knew the risks involved with this job and decided they were acceptable. Sadly, in situations like this, there is no winning hand. Lex made the choice, he wrote the check, but the funds would be coming from many accounts. Again sadly, I don’t believe Lex would have been happy in any other role in life. Therefore, if we wanted Lex to be himself, this was his path. Lex, R.I.P.
Any one who has been out there in heavy weather has been in that corner.
Usually you survive-but sometimes you don’t. He did what he could with
what he had…
All I get is The page cannot be found…. link taken down?
Me, too. I get “page not found.” ??
Links fixed. PDF version has amplifying data.
So far no surprises. Lex did draw a shitty hand on March 6th, no question. I marvel that a pilot could even control and attempt to land a jet in “critical fuel state”, which must mean “running on fumes or less”. Which is, I suppose, a testament to the great skill of our Beloved Lex. Truly the best of the very very best. As Grumpy said – it’s what made him, him.
The link wasn’t working for me either. I copied it to my Dropbox and made a public link.
http://bit.ly/QVQjzu
That’s the preliminary report. I’ve seen nothing to make me change my opinion on the basic cause of the accident.