On Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:34:02 -0000, Jim Logajan
wrote in ::

"John Doe" wrote:
It is definitely not the norm for how the USAF conducts daily training
missions.

The Marines have had their problems too...
http://www.cnn.com/US/9902/26/marines.cable.car.02/



http://www.s-t.com/daily/03-99/03-30-99/a06wn039.htm
Navigator admits conspiracy, obstruction
By Estes Thompson, Associated Press writer

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- A Marine navigator pleaded guilty yesterday
to obstruction and conspiracy charges for destroying a videotape
made during the flight of the jet that clipped a ski gondola cable
in Italy.

Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, 31, admitted throwing the tape into a
fire two days after his EA-6B Prowler radar-jamming jet struck the
cable, killing 20 people in February 1998.

"It was a stupid thing to do and I regret that," Schweitzer told
the military judge, Col. Alvin Keller. "It was a rash decision."

The charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. A military
panel will be chosen as early as today for a sentencing hearing.
Keller said the victims' relatives can testify about how the
tape's disappearance affected their quest to determine what
happened in the crash.

"Joe is the type of guy who wants to stand up and take
responsibility," said Dave Beck, Schweitzer's attorney. "There
were some bad mistakes made after the accident and they made bad
decisions."

The jet's pilot, Capt. Richard Ashby, 31, of Mission Viejo,
Calif., was acquitted by a military jury at Camp Lejeune of
manslaughter and other charges on March 4, outraging Italian
authorities.

Manslaughter counts against Schweitzer were dismissed after the
acquittal. But Schweitzer and Ashby both faced the obstruction of
justice and conspiracy charges because of the disappearance of the
videotape.

Ashby testified during his trial that Schweitzer filmed the early
part of the flight. After they landed, he gave the tape to
Schweitzer and never saw it again, Ashby testified.

Schweitzer said yesterday that he and Ashby never watched the
videotape. He said one of the reasons he wanted to destroy the
tape was that, at one point during the flight, he turned the
camera on his own face and smiled.

"The video had nothing to do with the mishap," Schweitzer said.
"It wasn't on in the valley. I didn't want it to be an issue."

Neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys would say Monday
whether yesterday will be called to testify at Ashby's
court-martial next month.

Schweitzer's plea was welcomed yesterday by the president of the
Italian province where the accident occurred.

"I appreciate (Capt. Joseph) Schweitzer's honesty," said Lorenzo
Dellai, president of the Province of Trento. "It is a contribution
to clearness, which has always been lacking in this sad story."

John Arthur Eaves Sr., an attorney representing the families of
the German victims in the accident, said Schweitzer's plea raises
more questions.

"I certainly wish we had the desire of Captain Schweitzer to tell
the truth about this destruction of evidence prior to the trial of
Captain Ashby," Eaves said. "This is a tragedy that becomes more
confusing as the evidence is destroyed."


And the final verdict didn't go over well...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/290850.stm


A military jury in the US cleared Marine Captain Richard Ashby of
all charges relating to the deaths of 20 people killed when his
jet hit sliced through ski-lift cables in the town of Cavalese.

He was found not guilt of involuntary manslaughter and of the
lesser charges of destruction of property and dereliction of duty
over the incident, which happened at the ski resort of Mount
Cermis in February 1998.


More military justice? :-)