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Old 6th Aug 2010, 07:57
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Mr.Bloggs
 
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Attention diverted??

Recalling the Everglades L1011 crash, where all 3 crew were focused on a gear light and gently flew the aircraft into the ground, I have a feeling that a similar event may have occurred here. The two may have thought that they were tracking down-wind, without assiduously checking their navigation. It could have been the MCDU tying both of them up, perhaps setting up a Secondary Flight Plan that had been deleted, perhaps re-entering Performance data. Who knows? By my reckoning the crew flew for nearly 2 minutes on an extended 45 degree leg before coming to grief, having made no left turn. (Of course, it is entirely possible that an incapacitation or a tech problem could have taken the pilots' attention away from the navigation, but as this was a visual procedure, none of these excuses warrant the subsequent event)

The CVR may provide the best clues to this accident. I hope so.
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