On 30-Nov-2005, "Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

That interception wasn't
incompetently handled,

I'm not sure of your definition of "incompetently handled" is, but it seems
the NTSB found the collision more the fault of the Phantom Phlyer than the
Baron pilot. Here's the quote from the end of the report you linked us to:



The Nat.ona1 Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause
of this accident was the failure of the F-4C pilot to maintain an
appropriate intercept
c1osir;g speed and a safe separation distance between his airplane and the
Beech Baron.
Contributing to the accident were the Beech Baron pi1o:'s penetration of the
Air Defense
Identification Zone and his faiiure to follow any of several prescribed
procedures which
would have permitted early positive identification after penetration, and
the failure of
the Fertile Controi staff to coordinate information concerning positive
identification of
the Baron in a timely manner, delaying a decision to terminate the intercept
mission.


It must have been awful to find the hair and blood embedded in the Phantom's
wing. I just hope everyone in the Baron died before they even knew what was
happening.
Scott Wilson