airsound
Had Lt Col Arthur 'Bud' Holland and Captain Jacob van Zanten survived their respective accidents and been put on trial, I'm sure their defence lawyers could have amassed dozens of general officers (in Holland's case) and senior captains and managers (in van Zanten's) who would have sung the praises of these outstandingly experienced and respected aviators. Whether that would have presented a true picture in court would rather depend on how much effort the prosecution spent establishing contrasting views from squadron commanders (Holland) and co-pilots (both), and whether it could protect its less 'prestigious' witnesses from attacks on their credibility. The truth behind both accidents would have been found in their evidence.
We have spent many years in aviation trying to get away from the notion of the infallible pilot. Medicine is just setting off on that journey with its consultants. It disappoints me to see the trend being reversed.