Originally Posted by
Onceapilot
Thank you for the expanded plot wiedehopf. The final descent appears to be almost vertical with approx 2500' lost in 3 sec.
Condolences to all involved.
OAP
Please keep in mind that this is altitude plotted against time so you can't really tell the flight path from it.
If you believe the data the aircraft had a descent rate of 31000 ft per minute during the last recorded transmission.
That is around 300 knots vertical speed. Horizontal speed at that last data point is 360 knots.
That is a total speed of around 470 knots with the flight path angle being around 40 degrees downwards.
So this calculation is kind of gruesome but as the question came up i'll post it anyway.