From testimony during the trial...
"Based on his calculations, if there had been no obstructions, the plane would have slid into the Arkansas River still going 83.6 mph, he said. The plane was sliding at about 95 mph when it hit the steel light structures."
How many people would have been killed if the aircraft wound up in the water? We will never know.
Jury awards such as this are a tax in this country. The plaintiff attorney advertises on his website that he is responsible for a billion dollars in settlements (all aviation related).
The NTSB report on this accident is particularly ugly.
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?...99MA060&akey=1
I am truly sad for crew and passengers alike, however......
This trial does nothing but enrich the family and attorney. The widow stated that the sole reason for pursuing litigation was to clear her husbands name. If that is so, then I guess we will hear of her donation to charity the proceeds from this litigation.
Not holding my breath..........