"Ron Lee" wrote in message But let's get the facts about this parachute
deployment and assess
whether it really saved four people from an otherwise certain
death...or was just a crutch for pilot error.

There are less than perfect pilots. Some pilots need crutches. Without the
crutch, 4 people likely would have been seriously injured. The plane came
down amongst pine trees. Even if the crutch was for ineptitude, it was still
a good thing.

D.