PIA A320 Crash Karachi
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Korea
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Texas
Age: 61
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I do not disagree with you at all that they did not seem to have their heads in the game, and that the crew coordination was probably either poor or missing.
It is like seeking a rational reason why a trained pilot would hold an aircraft in a stall for 38, 000 feet (AF447).
He had a poor scan (perhaps due to being a child of the magenta line, or perhaps just due to no recency/currency of him flying instruments rather than letting HAL fly for him) and it broke down quickly to where he had no scan. Seen it happen plenty, in aircraft and in sims, and it happened to me a few times.
But between him and the left hand pilot, yeah, you are right. It hardly seems rational.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wanderlust
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Last 30mts they got into the discussion about the pandemic. So missing TOD during that not surprising. The discussion continued. So when the enormity of the situation dawned on them they gotinto panic. Considering the fatigue and low blood sugar it could have led to hyperventilation. Then any irrational acts are possible.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dark side of the Moon
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Actually, I am looking at a possible 'common mistake seen in the sims / knobology' explanation for bringing the gear up - because they had previously lowered it and they were heading in to land (even though they are going too fast), which is rational - so that is why I asked that bit at the end.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 525
There is absolutely nothing in this data to show that an average qualified crew in the circumstances on the day, could not be be expected to recognize the gravity of the situation, respond to it, mitigate the trajectory, and take action to correct the flightpath in an expeditious and controlled manner, in such a way as to achieve a safe outcome on a subsequent planned, controlled, and routinely executed approach and landing, within safe parameters and the within normal limits of the manufacturer's standard operating guidance.
So I think we can agree the aircraft was grossly mishandled to a degree that barely lies within the definition of the phrase.
We must ask therefore, what administrative organization allowed two such individuals to occupy the flight deck of a public transport aeroplane in which any one of our loved ones might have been a passenger?
So I think we can agree the aircraft was grossly mishandled to a degree that barely lies within the definition of the phrase.
We must ask therefore, what administrative organization allowed two such individuals to occupy the flight deck of a public transport aeroplane in which any one of our loved ones might have been a passenger?
We must wait for the final report to find out what put the crew in a position that led to an expedited descent well after TOD, what were the pressures inside that cockpit that led an historically competent crew to mess up so badly.
The Air France crew were not fasting, as far as we know did not "fake" their qualifications, and were not subject to what has been referred to on this thread as "cultural differences". Yet they too crashed a perfectly airworthy aircraft in a manner that would have the FlightSim brigade on here shaking their heads in disbelief.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Москва/Ташкент
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The former had many complex issues, CRM, automation, crew training (i.e. high altitude upset recovery for one) all coming together, the PIA crash seems on the face of it downright absolute negligence. There is a a huge difference.
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Korea
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Swissair 316 in Athens 1979, I suppose:
The accident investigation determined the causes of the accident were that the crew touched down too far down the runway, at too high a speed, following a non-stabilised approach, and that they failed to properly utilise the aircraft's brake and reverse thrust systems, which resulted in their being unable to stop the aircraft within the available runway and overrun distance.
The accident investigation determined the causes of the accident were that the crew touched down too far down the runway, at too high a speed, following a non-stabilised approach, and that they failed to properly utilise the aircraft's brake and reverse thrust systems, which resulted in their being unable to stop the aircraft within the available runway and overrun distance.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 525
Swissair 316 in Athens 1979, I suppose:
The accident investigation determined the causes of the accident were that the crew touched down too far down the runway, at too high a speed, following a non-stabilised approach, and that they failed to properly utilise the aircraft's brake and reverse thrust systems, which resulted in their being unable to stop the aircraft within the available runway and overrun distance.
The accident investigation determined the causes of the accident were that the crew touched down too far down the runway, at too high a speed, following a non-stabilised approach, and that they failed to properly utilise the aircraft's brake and reverse thrust systems, which resulted in their being unable to stop the aircraft within the available runway and overrun distance.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 525
The first rule of aviation safety is to accept human beings can only be relied upon to do 2 things consistently whilst alive; they breathe and they make mistakes. The aim of the accident investigation is to determine why the mistakes happened. Nobody intentionally crashes an aircraft (and yes I know the obvious exceptions - Egypt Air, 9/11, German Wings, Malaysian, etc. ). We know what the crew did in this accident, to prevent further such accidents we need to know why. Saying they were negligent just doesn't help advance our knowledge on how to improve aviation safety.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Itinerant
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I suggest you do some research before posting something that casts aspersions on the crew that died in that accident. We all make mistakes and we should all learn from the mistakes of others but in this case your comment is incredibly disrespectful -- because it's false.
Last edited by grizzled; 26th Jun 2020 at 03:24.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Originally Posted by asdf1234
what were the pressures inside that cockpit that led an historically competent crew to mess up so badly.
Really no point in defending the outright indefensible here


Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 525
Not true at all. Read the report, especially with regard to the timeline from just before the "Pan Pan Pan" call until the turn to Halifax. Then read the transcript, from 1:14 to 1:16 UTC.
I suggest you do some research before posting something that casts aspersions on the crew that died in that accident. We all make mistakes and we should all learn from the mistakes of others but in this case your comment is incredibly disrespectful -- because it's false.
I suggest you do some research before posting something that casts aspersions on the crew that died in that accident. We all make mistakes and we should all learn from the mistakes of others but in this case your comment is incredibly disrespectful -- because it's false.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: victoria bc
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These pilots were either drunk, or;
This flying culture is so ingrained at PIA that both of them were completely comfortable with it (as they actually stated), and had got away with such behaviour on a regular basis in the past. From which you can probably deduce that other pilots at PIA behave in a similar fashion, on a regular basis.
This flying culture is so ingrained at PIA that both of them were completely comfortable with it (as they actually stated), and had got away with such behaviour on a regular basis in the past. From which you can probably deduce that other pilots at PIA behave in a similar fashion, on a regular basis.
Last edited by ferry pilot; 26th Jun 2020 at 07:02. Reason: format
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wanderlust
Posts: 2,826
The time frame of inquiry report of two years onwards makes it meaningless. Because during such a long period some other incident/accident takes place and the focus shifts. Till the full report considering all dimensions and factors is out on what basis the operator will change operating or maintenance practices? Do other non involved airlines ever get to know what happened some years back in another corner of the earth? In two years time after the dust is settled the world moves on.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: FL390
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You only have to take a look at some of the videos on YouTube filmed from the flight deck to see practices that should scare the living daylights out of you as a passenger.
I feel there must be something more to this than poor decision making and ropey CRM. Awaiting the final report with interest.
I feel there must be something more to this than poor decision making and ropey CRM. Awaiting the final report with interest.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Germany
Posts: 867
PIA have been banned internationally before and following their own government's highlighting of forged licences and other problems I would be surprised if this is not being currently considered. As far as learning points go, this crew appear to have displayed a level of competence of someone playing flight simulator for the first time. So I am not sure how relevant it is. The tragedy is that they were so close to the airport in the final moments. Had they lowered the gear later they might just have made it. But given the rest of their performance it is hardly surprising that they did not.