The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Some weather.
Looks like pilot hit the ground far too early so either fault with altitude or pilot lost all situation awareness and thought he was much higher.
Flying in conditions like that are quite something.
In this screenshot, there appears to be "windows" of some sort in roughly the area where the fuselage seperated in the crash which leads me to wonder if there's a relation.
A Lithuanian friend of mine said that the two Backfires were instructed to land at this airfield, but the tower had explained that it was unsafe because of the weather, but the commander of Backfire flight overruled the tower and instructed the pilot that it would be okay for them to land. If this is true, it's criminally sad.
Not sure what the Russian military Flight Regulations say but, my not so old U.S. Army one specifically indicates that the Pilot-in-Command has the final authority in the operation of their aircraft.
§91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
(b) In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency.
(c) Each pilot in command who deviates from a rule under paragraph (b) of this section shall, upon the request of the Administrator, send a written report of that deviation to the Administrator.
§91.123 Compliance with ATC clearances and instructions.
(a) When an ATC clearance has been obtained, no pilot in command may deviate from that clearance unless an amended clearance is obtained, an emergency exists, or the deviation is in response to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory. However, except in Class A airspace, a pilot may cancel an IFR flight plan if the operation is being conducted in VFR weather conditions. When a pilot is uncertain of an ATC clearance, that pilot shall immediately request clarification from ATC.
(b) Except in an emergency, no person may operate an aircraft contrary to an ATC instruction in an area in which air traffic control is exercised.
(c) Each pilot in command who, in an emergency, or in response to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory, deviates from an ATC clearance or instruction shall notify ATC of that deviation as soon as possible.
(d) Each pilot in command who (though not deviating from a rule of this subpart) is given priority by ATC in an emergency, shall submit a detailed report of that emergency within 48 hours to the manager of that ATC facility, if requested by ATC.
(e) Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, no person operating an aircraft may operate that aircraft according to any clearance or instruction that has been issued to the pilot of another aircraft for radar air traffic control purposes.
Not sure what the Russian military Flight Regulations say but, my not so old U.S. Army one specifically indicates that the Pilot-in-Command has the final authority in the operation of their aircraft.
Last night I asked my friend to clarify. He was explained this by an old ex-Soviet Air Force buddy of his. Apparently the tower had said not to land but was ignored. Looking at the video, the Backfire's approach speed and rate of descent is extraordinarily fast, most likely caused by the pilot experiencing whiteout.
Whiteout (weather) - Wikipedia
Air New Zealand Flight 901 - Wikipedia
The accident took place here:
Olenya (air base) - Wikipedia