Dave does.

My pilot friends already know, the NTSB can't say **** until their entire investigation is done; and rightly so.

Take a look at the flight path, he got within a few miles of the intended landing spot and circles for almost 15 minutes, he and ATC determined all hope for landing was lost, due to weather.
ATC then helped him follow a highway to an airport, as he got close, he got lost in fog and tried to turn around, he was in a valley between hills, as he turned around, he struck the ground at about 1400 feet elevation.

He took off in conditions that were below minimums, and got trapped in fog. Not unusual for helicopter pilots who are pressured, or fell pressured, to fly.

 

My ex pilot brother said basically the same as you except the fact the pilot isn't around to defend the indefensible. It all boils down to (seemingly) pilot error. Everything else is moot like you said. Oh, btw, every pilot has terrain mapping systems (that include terrain elevations) on board AND backup mapping systems (like maps). If not used..... Oh, btw, minimums and ATC control should be basic pilot skills even before climbing into the seat. The radio traffic eventually will be released but remember they are slightly different than fixed wing aircraft (slightly). I foresee ppl blaming a (take your pick) passenger for the crash, who knows maybe one of the seats was occupied by someone who interfered with flight control (again, pilot responsibility if so), but I doubt it given what has been reported already (which means nothing until the official report is released). I see lawyers being the only ones being enriched, sad.....


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The radio traffic recordings are already released, as well as a detailed, real-time flight path.

And the flight path is very clear, he flew at essentially cruise speed into terrain, as he made a (too wide) u-turn. Unless is it proven he lost power (and therefore altitude), it is all very simple.
Sorry, I now can't find the link to the animation, it was in real time, from takeoff to crash, includes all radio traffic and an animation of how he circled and circles, then followed the highway to the final crash site, as he made his final turn to try to get out of the mess he was in, he hit the ground at high speed.

 

You think? Saw the crash sight pictures, and the animation of the circling over the city there. more to come as ppl speculate for sure. Why he was going 'high speed'. That and everything else will be in a report by NTSB somewhere down the road. Again, SAD...


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Fred Silverman, Legendary Television Programmer, Dies at 82

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Legendary actor Kirk Douglas has died at age 103

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Veteran actor Orson Bean, 91, struck and killed by vehicle in Venice, California

https://abc7.com/5912587/

 

Robert Conrad ( The Wild Wild West and Black Sheep Squadron ) dead at 84.

 

Paul English, Willie Nelson’s Longtime Drummer, Dead at 87

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...d-obit-951669/

 

Country singer Daniel Lee Martin found dead amid child sex abuse charges

https://nypost.com/2020/02/16/countr...abuse-charges/

 

John Andretti, one of racing’s most versatile, dies after battle with cancer

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Katherine Johnson, One of NASA’s ‘Hidden Figures,’ Dies at 101

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James Lipton, Longtime Host of Inside the Actors Studio, Dies at 93

https://people.com/movies/james-lipt...actors-studio/

 

Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of GE, dies at 84

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/jack-welch-obit-ge.html

 

Nathaniel Taylor, ‘Sanford and Son’ Actor, Is Dead at 80

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/o...ylor-dead.html

 

The woman who inspired the image of "Rosie the Riveter" during WWII died today at age 95. She worked as a riveter in an aircraft manufacturer plant in the early 1940s, installing rivets in fighter aircraft. Her name was not mentioned in the early death announcement.

 

Rosalind P. Walter

 

From what I read the pilot was IFR rated, but chose not to use ATC and file IFR because it would have meant at least 30 minute delay.

money talks, stupidity walks.

 

Sorry, stupidity splats in this case...


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Max Von Sydow: The Exorcist and The Seventh Seal actor dies aged 90

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51803195