Originally Posted by
Marginal Standard
'Mr Goldstein was flying 2,200 feet below the recommended height through the Alps, but an investigation was unable to determine why.'
I know why: he took the GAFOR reference altitude for the Simplon Pass of 6,800ft as the recommended crossing altitude. 1500ft has to be added to this altitude to give the minimum crossing altitude of 8300ft and this is clearly shown on the Swiss VFR chart...
Source: the pilot's postings on the Euroga forum as 'jgmusic'.
I don't think that can be correct.
I attach 3 extracts from the Final Report (which is excellent, I think):
So the pilot had crossed the Simplon before, and therefore knew the required min height.
So the pilot did not plan a flight at 6,800 ft AMSL.
And this is what his entry to the Simplon Pass must have looked like, with 3 miles to run to the impact site:
Yikes, that looks dangerous !! (His flight path is indicated by the large arrow). The weather was clear without clouds.
A very sad incident.
IB