Originally Posted by Halfbaked_Boy
All we can do is theorize, so let's wait until the report before we question the pilot's personal skills/safety?
The NTSB prelim report stated he was a Commercial Pilot. With that in mind his personal skills should have been sufficient. If they weren't then he should have reverted to a PPL.
First job I flew skydivers out of a shortish paddock with longer then desired grass and trees at the end (one way takeoff). It had a windsock and after pacing the length, worked out the speed I need to be at as I passed the windsock. Reject decision made even before the preflight. I had a massive 300 hours with an exceptional 25 on type. Was I being cautious due to inexperience and would I do the same now with several thousand bug smasher hours or would I become complacent as it appears (speculation) in this case?
It will be interesting to see the experience of the crash test dummy.