@ capnbloggs
A crew trained and checked to the required standard presented with an unusual situation which they could not resolve/cope with. Come to think of it, Asiana 214 was exactly the same thing.
What? Something a
student pilot is expected to handle from their first solo - a visual descent to landing in CAVOK and daylight - is an "unusual situation"?
I hold no brief for the ethnic/cultural argument, and know full well that "western" pilots can prang aircraft like anyone else. But let's not get silly in presenting the counter-arguments.
Asiana: visual - daylight - clear weather - over flat terrain (water) - slowed to stick-shaker speed
UPS: instrument - night - clouds - over hills - maintained flying speed
No useful comparison.
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@ mm64, et al. Thanks for the diagram. I wanted to post something similar, to point out that - among other things - the RA would be bouncing around as they crossed all those hills and hollers on final, and thus an imperfect cross-check.
It's possible (
not necessarily probable) that they lost the real PAPI in the hills or scud, and then picked up "false" lights - street lights, house lights, or car lights, on Bethel Ave. or the surrounding hills - and followed those right to their "landing."