On 28 Apr 2005 12:08:01 -0700, "Peter R."
wrote in . com::

Larry wrote:

A difference? It points out that erroneous conclusions are possible,
and that speculation as to the cause of aircraft mishaps is risky.

What's the risk of speculating the cause of an accident in a Usenet
discussion group? If one makes an ass out of one self, a simple change
of the moniker wipes the slate clean.

That's why I have considerably more respect for those Usenet posters
who provide accurate personal identification information, and shun
those who post anonymously through a mail-to-news gateway.
Accountability fosters respect.

Seriously, though, you know that past NTSB statistics are slanted
towards the scenario of a pilot failing to ensure adequete fuel before
a flight.

No. I didn't know that. Are you able to cite any evidence of that
sort of NTSB bias?

I know the NTSB has found the cause of a military-civil MAC to be the
fault of the glider pilot who had the right-of-way at the time, so
it's possible.*

Additionally, the fact that the pilot told ATC he was out
of fuel is illuminating (source: LiveATC's archive of the one-sided
transmissions).

How is that illuminating?

How would an inexperienced, solo pilot flying at night
correctly and quickly diagnose a fuel leak while still in the descent?

If his actual fuel burn exceeded his planned fuel burn, it would
indicate fuel leaking via one route or another.




* http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...13X33340&key=1
NTSB Identification: LAX86MA186A. The docket is stored on NTSB
microfiche number 31421.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 20, 1986 in WARNER SPRINGS, CA
Aircraft: LTV AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES A7E, registration: USN
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

A ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4 GLIDER AND AN LTV A7E JET COLLIDED OVER HOT
SPRINGS MTN, NEAR WARNER SPRINGS, CA. THE A7E WAS ATTEMPTING A RAPID
PULL UP AND THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING A NOSE DOWN, 30 DEG RIGHT TURN
WHEN THEY COLLIDED. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLT
RULES AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NEITHER PILOT WAS INJURED.
THE GLIDER LEFT WING OUTBD 3 FT SECTION WAS SEVERED. THE A7E NOSE
COWLING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE INGESTED EXTENSIVE
FIBERGLASS MATERIAL. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE A7E WAS EXECUTING A
SOUTHBOUND TURN ON VR 1257 AND WAS WITHIN THE ROUTE WIDTH (4 NM); THE
GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GAIN LIFT ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOT SPRINGS MTN
AND WAS WITHIN VR 1257 ROUTE STRUCTURE. THE A7E PLT HAD INFORMED THE
NECESSARY FLT SERV STATIONS THAT THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE; THE GLIDER PLT
HAD NOT CONTACTED THE FLT SERV STATIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE ROUTE WAS
ACTIVE.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable
cause(s) of this accident as follows:
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION..IMPROPER..PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION..IMPROPER..PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
CHECKLIST..POOR..PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT


Contributing Factors

TERRAIN CONDITION..MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY

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