Originally Posted by
piperboy84
I've driven down to London a few times many years ago and just past Oxford turn off there is a definitive break in the landscape that looks odd, where the highway has a dip then a climb into a densely forested area that's seems kind of out of place in comparison to what you have been driving thru till the dip. Is this the accident area?
Yes, that's the accident area. Although the mast is easily the highest point for miles around (and sets the MSA for the area), it's only just over 300' higher than the terrain surrounding it.
I'm inclined to agree with those that saying that, mechanical failure excepted, the pilot can't have been where he thought he was. I wonder what was being used for navigation at the time? Certainly wouldn't have been visual in the local Wx as reported by others.
Do birds fly in IMC? The ridge is home to hundreds (literally) of Red Kites; they weigh in around 1kg so could do some serious damage.