Originally Posted by
Bill Bader
I think Mr. mxgyvr81's #316 post offers the most likely explanation so far.
Generally I tend to agree.
The only thing that worries me is that this would require a really horrendous visibility in order not to see the ridge on the left side.
The canyon ist not that wide (<1/2 mile). Assuming a speed of 200kts and the fact that they would pull max a 2G turn (probably even less) would bring them beyond the middle of the canyon when completing the turn into the canyon. (a = v^2 /r => R = v^2/ (2*9,81m/s) => Turn Radius R = 540 m = 1/3 mile.
That means they wouldn't have been able to see the left ridge being less that a 1/4 mile away.
That iwould be a really horrendous visibility to fly VFR close to mountaineous terrain in general.
On the other hand such a limited visibility would explain why they couldn't escape by climbing and leaving through the lowest part of the ridge on the right side.
I hope we will ever get the information what really made them enter this canyon.
Deliberately or accidentally !?