Comments by "Colonel K" (@Paladin1873) on "The Crash of Mourn 79" video.

You mentioned the 1994 B-52 crash at Fairchild AFB. This was a particularly tragic event because it was completely avoidable. The week had begun ominously enough when a former serviceman entered the base hospital and killed five people before being shot by Security Policemen. Preoccupied with the investigation, the wing commander overlooked or dismissed repeated complaints regarding the dangerous flight behavior one of his senior pilots. The failure of the wing commander and his deputies to ground this individual would result in the death of four men, including one squadron commander who refused to allow any other members of squadron to fly with this pilot. Numerous serious safety violations were well documented, but nothing more than verbal reprimands had ever been issued. The safety officer on the flight was a colonel who was about to retire, and this was to be his last mission. As a result, his family had gathered at the field to greet him upon landing. Instead, they witnessed the crash, which was recorded on videotape. It is a sickening thing to watch. The findings of the accident investigation uncovered a serious pattern of abuse and failure of leadership which led to the court-martial of the Wing Commander and his conviction for dereliction of duty. Small solace for those left behind.
18
@rael5469 Give it a rest and enjoy your Christmas.
2
@rael5469 My favorite is " I want a hippopotamus for Christmas".
2
@rael5469 Then you are lucky to be alive.
1
@rael5469 He exceeded the limits of the aircraft and killed everyone aboard.
1
@rael5469 I've read some of the reports on the accident and there is no record of any mechanical failures attributable to the crash. Lt Col Holland (the pilot in command) had a reputation for flying aircraft beyond their authorized limits, but no serious administrative action was ever taken against him. As the chief of STAN/EVAL, Holland knew better, but continued to set a poor example of air discipline. This in itself was a demonstrated failure of senior leadership and has since been used as a lesson to impress future aircrews on the importance of adhering to proper rules and procedures. I am speaking about documented facts, not personal opinion. If insulting other commenters is all you have for your argument, then you have no argument.
1
@rael5469 I'll tell that to one of my former staff officers. He's a FAA inspector and can use a good laugh.
1
@rael5469 Certainly not by crashing his plane before the Russian MiGs and SAMs can get him.
1
@rael5469 Your theory doesn't hold up very well. His superior, the Director of Operations, Colonel William Pellerins, was court-martialed. In my own career I've known and worked with a number of officers who have been reprimanded, fired, forced to retire, or court-martialed. Theirs ranks ranged from captain to Lt General. The captain had been a personal friend. The general had been my boss.
1