X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:33:52 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-m18.mx.aol.com ([64.12.138.208] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.0.8) with ESMTP id 1000750 for lml@lancaironline.net; Mon, 27 Feb 2006 22:05:34 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=64.12.138.208; envelope-from=VTAILJEFF@aol.com Received: from VTAILJEFF@aol.com by imo-m18.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v38_r7.3.) id q.c1.6ac54284 (62976) for ; Mon, 27 Feb 2006 22:04:47 -0500 (EST) From: VTAILJEFF@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: X-Original-Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 22:04:47 EST Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Dangerous Attitudes X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1141095887" X-Mailer: 9.0 SE for Windows sub 5021 X-Spam-Flag: NO -------------------------------1141095887 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mark, There was no "military accident report" in the case of the Italian gondola/ EA-6B accident near Cavalese, Itay in 1998, only a JAG investigation. I know because I was the aircraft accident investigator working for the defense team in that case. I studied the aircraft mission computer data that reported altitude, airspeed, position as well as many other parameters. I interviewed all crewmembers as well as many eyewitnesses and squadron aircrew. Although the prosecution portrayed the crew as rogue cowboys and the media picked up on that theme and played it very heavily, there was no physical evidence of that at all. ECMO 3 did not know the rest of the crew-- he was a relief crew from a sister squadron that was in theater a week early and got this "good deal flight". Some Italian eyewitnesses were pressured by events to give statements and clearly were not in places where they could have seen the aircraft. Others claimed the aircraft was clipping rooftops over 50 miles from the accident scene when the aircraft data showed it to be over 1000' AGL at those points. The gondola support cable was struck within the lateral confines of the authorized low altitude training route. Unfortunatley, that cable was not depicted on DOD TPC charts used by tactical aircrew. I interviewed the NIMA person responsible for the TPC charts covering Italy and asked her why the cable was not on the chart-- she said she was too busy for that stuff. The prosecution vilified the crew for performing a legitimate tactical maneuver on a training mission, a ridge roll. Weeks after the accident, Italian Air Force officials could not agree between themwselves what the speed and altitude restricitons for the route were. Changes to the route were on file with the permanent Air Force contigent at Aviano, but that information had not been passed over to the Marine squadrons TAD there for the Bosnia operations. Something else you did not hear in the press. The Marine squadron CO flew the same route days earlier at speeds and altitudes consistent with the accident cew and did not know there was a speed restriction of 450 knots (as I recall). The data from the aircraft did not support the prosecution's allegations and the pilot and ECMO 1 were acquitted on all principal charges. Charges against ECMO 2 and 3 were dropped-- never mind the fact that you cannot see forward from the rear seat positions. The jury of their peers consisted of eight members (again, as I recall) and they only needed five to convict and send them to prison for life. Three members were aviators. Try to find that kind of jury elsewhere in America on an aviation case-- good luck. It was no coincidence that the Italian Prime Minister was visiting Washington , DC and Bill Clinton when the verdict was announced. Pressure to convict these guys from the White Hous on down was obvious. This accident was a tremendous tragedy but was not the result of "rogue behaviour" as was portrayed by the press. Regards, Jeff Edwards -------------------------------1141095887 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Mark,
 
There was no "military accident report" in the case of the Italian gond= ola/=20 EA-6B accident near Cavalese, Itay in 1998, only a JAG investigation. I know= =20 because I was the aircraft accident investigator working for the=20 defense team in that case. I studied the aircraft mission computer data that= =20 reported altitude, airspeed, position as well as many other parameters. I=20 interviewed all crewmembers as well as many eyewitnesses and=20 squadron aircrew. Although the prosecution portrayed the crew= as=20 rogue cowboys and the media picked up on that theme and played it very heavi= ly,=20 there was no physical evidence of that at all. ECMO 3 did not know the rest=20= of=20 the crew-- he was a relief crew from a sister squadron that was in theater a= =20 week early and got this "good deal flight". Some Italian eyewitnesses were=20 pressured by events to give statements and clearly were not in places where=20= they=20 could have seen the aircraft. Others claimed the aircraft was clip= ping=20 rooftops over 50 miles from the accident scene when the aircraft data showed= it=20 to be over 1000' AGL at those points. The gondola support cable was struck=20 within the lateral confines of the authorized low altitude training route.=20 Unfortunatley, that cable was not depicted on DOD TPC charts used by tactica= l=20 aircrew. I interviewed the NIMA person responsible for the TPC charts coveri= ng=20 Italy and asked her why the cable was not on the chart-- she said she was to= o=20 busy for that stuff.
 
The prosecution vilified the crew for performing a legitimate tactical=20 maneuver on a training mission, a ridge roll. Weeks after the accident, Ital= ian=20 Air Force officials could not agree between themwselves what the speed and=20 altitude restricitons for the route were. Changes to the route were on file=20= with=20 the permanent Air Force contigent at Aviano, but that information had not be= en=20 passed over to the Marine squadrons TAD there for the Bosnia operations.=20 Something else you did not hear in the press. The Marine squadron CO flew th= e=20 same route days earlier at speeds and altitudes consistent with the accident= cew=20 and did not know there was a speed restriction of 450 knots (as I recall). T= he=20 data from the aircraft did not support the prosecution's allegations and the= =20 pilot and ECMO 1 were acquitted on all principal charges. Charges against EC= MO 2=20 and 3 were dropped-- never mind the fact that you cannot see forward from th= e=20 rear seat positions. The jury of their peers consisted of eight members (aga= in,=20 as I recall) and they only needed five to convict and send them to prison fo= r=20 life. Three members were aviators. Try to find that kind of jury elsewhere i= n=20 America on an aviation case-- good luck.
 
It was no coincidence that the Italian Prime Minister was visiting=20 Washington , DC and Bill Clinton when the verdict was announced. Pressure to= =20 convict these guys from the White Hous on down was obvious.
 
This accident was a tremendous tragedy but was not the result of "rogue= =20 behaviour" as was portrayed by the press.
 
Regards,
 
Jeff Edwards
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