Shoreham Airshow Crash Trial
Job 1 for people who plan airshows, run airshows, and fly in airshows is to not to kill anyone on the ground. Epic failure at all levels led to horrific and preventable fatalities.
Falcon 900 has articulated the challenge for future airshows. Talking about loop geometry may explain how this accident happened but won’t prevent the next accident.
Falcon 900 has articulated the challenge for future airshows. Talking about loop geometry may explain how this accident happened but won’t prevent the next accident.
Leaving aside there isn’t a verdict of being “lawfully killed”
That wasn’t the root cause it was the result of the root cause. If the display area had been properly sized he would not have crashed in an area full of people on a road. Secondly if he had been properly evaluated for his display authorization, he likely would not have been allowed to fly this category of aircraft, especially given his previous airshow history.
Sadly, probably a lesson all directly concerned have now learned, or at least realised as relevant.
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Also, how come the traffic lights weren’t set to Green as had been mandated? If the traffic hadn’t been queuing, it seems highly likely that fewer lives would have been lost. Why is this not properly developed as a theme?
Had the lights been set to full time green, it would have thus been for both carriageways and thus there would have been flowing traffic on both carriageways, which might have meant less, or possibly even more with traffic flow in both directions. As such its an unknown variable, so can't be taken as a factor.
I would say its more likely that it might not have reduced the number of casualties, as they were all from the cars stationary at the red lights on the westbound carriageway, and thus the traffic on the eastbound carrieageway were also being held on the red, further to the west of the impact point, and thus the eastbound carriageway was free of traffic when the impact occured.
Had the lights been set to full time green, it would have thus been for both carriageways and thus there would have been flowing traffic on both carriageways, which might have meant less, or possibly even more with traffic flow in both directions. As such its an unknown variable, so can't be taken as a factor.
Had the lights been set to full time green, it would have thus been for both carriageways and thus there would have been flowing traffic on both carriageways, which might have meant less, or possibly even more with traffic flow in both directions. As such its an unknown variable, so can't be taken as a factor.
Well, not really, the two side roads either side of that junction were closed to traffic because of the airshow, so there was therefore no need for them, so that's why the lights were supposed to be set to full time green for the duration, so as to not have static traffic being held on the westbound carriageway, and thus under the display area, which is why people are saying because of this there could have been less casualties. However as pointed out the eastbound traffic was being held at the lights as well so was therefore traffic free at time of impact, and therefore it can't be certain that there would thus have been less casualties. Its a possibility not a certainty.
Indeed, but yet further evidence of the fact that what the various existing rules and regulations had prescribed was not being carried out. Prescribing yet more rules and regulations is especially pointless where the existing ones can be ignored with impunity it seems.
what about those responsible for allowing that aircraft to fly? What about those responsible for allowing it to embark on that display? And yes, what about the person who failed to implement the mandated condition for the traffic lights? Why are they all being given a free pass?
what about those responsible for allowing that aircraft to fly? What about those responsible for allowing it to embark on that display? And yes, what about the person who failed to implement the mandated condition for the traffic lights? Why are they all being given a free pass?
"Why are they all being given a free pass?"
Because it would open up th can of worms referred to be several posters on here . Who ever was fingered would immediately drag in all the old cases where things were swept under the carpet as evidence of the culture and processes ACTUALLY in place rather than the ones laid down in the law and regs
Because it would open up th can of worms referred to be several posters on here . Who ever was fingered would immediately drag in all the old cases where things were swept under the carpet as evidence of the culture and processes ACTUALLY in place rather than the ones laid down in the law and regs
Having followed this thread from the outset, and made a few contributions along the way, it does strike me that we are now reaching a point where there is significant degree of consensus around the key points:
- The regulators failed dramatically. This aircraft should not have been flying, this pilot should not have been flying it, and they should not have been attempting to fly this display. Prioritise these any way you like, but had the existing regulations been effectively applied to any one of them, we would not have had this incident.
- The investigation has not provided a convincing or ( in my view at least) credible outcome. For example, The apparent power deficit during the fateful climb and the evidence regarding the fuel pump diaphragm were staring them in the face, yet they chose to ascribe a conclusion to Rolls Royces analysis which Rolls Royce themselves had avoided.
Also, how come the traffic lights weren’t set to Green as had been mandated? If the traffic hadn’t been queuing, it seems highly likely that fewer lives would have been lost. Why is this not properly developed as a theme?
- The Coroners conclusion regarding the victims being “unlawfully killed” verges on the Kafka-esque. A moments consideration of the facts by primary school pupils would lead to that conclusion. Leaving aside there isn’t a verdict of being “lawfully killed” , the tragic victims obviously did nothing to warrant what transpired. Ignoring some of the directly pertinent evidence to arrive at such an arcane verdict does little to enhance the credibility of the process, and I fear will provide little enduring comfort for the relatives of the deceased.
The existing system could and should have prevented this incident, and made its consequences less severe. None of those who presided over or were directly responsible for the failure to implement it have been held to account. I’m sure the various changes which have been introduced can make things safer still, but ONLY IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY APPLIED. Where does the confidence that they will be come from?
- The regulators failed dramatically. This aircraft should not have been flying, this pilot should not have been flying it, and they should not have been attempting to fly this display. Prioritise these any way you like, but had the existing regulations been effectively applied to any one of them, we would not have had this incident.
- The investigation has not provided a convincing or ( in my view at least) credible outcome. For example, The apparent power deficit during the fateful climb and the evidence regarding the fuel pump diaphragm were staring them in the face, yet they chose to ascribe a conclusion to Rolls Royces analysis which Rolls Royce themselves had avoided.
Also, how come the traffic lights weren’t set to Green as had been mandated? If the traffic hadn’t been queuing, it seems highly likely that fewer lives would have been lost. Why is this not properly developed as a theme?
- The Coroners conclusion regarding the victims being “unlawfully killed” verges on the Kafka-esque. A moments consideration of the facts by primary school pupils would lead to that conclusion. Leaving aside there isn’t a verdict of being “lawfully killed” , the tragic victims obviously did nothing to warrant what transpired. Ignoring some of the directly pertinent evidence to arrive at such an arcane verdict does little to enhance the credibility of the process, and I fear will provide little enduring comfort for the relatives of the deceased.
The existing system could and should have prevented this incident, and made its consequences less severe. None of those who presided over or were directly responsible for the failure to implement it have been held to account. I’m sure the various changes which have been introduced can make things safer still, but ONLY IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY APPLIED. Where does the confidence that they will be come from?
Last edited by Chugalug2; 28th Dec 2022 at 10:06.
DR, I don't think that Chug is saying that the fuel pump did play any part in the accident. It seems that he is suggesting that evidence was fabricated to minimise the chances of the accident being laid at that door. Guarding the guardians.
Ah, OK. But either way it's hardly a smoking gun pointing to evidence having been fabricated.
And your evidence that it did play a part is ... ?
The point is not whether you or I with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight consider the lights made a difference. The point is that someone before the incident conducted a risk evaluation which determined that it was important that they were set to Green, and the display was authorised on the basis that they would be. You might be right that there was no incremental loss of life as a result of there being a queue of traffic for the aircraft to plough into ( good luck arguing that one) but it remains the case that a condition precedent was not fulfilled, and nobody has been taken to task.
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interesting read and theory about fuel pump. BUT read the report , the aircraft was not airworthy in the first place so shouldnt have been flying. Approved by CAA so there the problem lies. If airworthy then the other factors could be relevant . Info all in AAIB report findings.
I said that there was no way to determine whether or not that had been the case.
