In article ,
unicate says...


May be wrong, but it's human nature to speculate...especially when
*some* of the initial reports of the circumstances/events leading up to
them read like connect-the-dots illustrations.

Speculation is natural, and probably productive, as it makes us think about the
accident process. When you see it happen to someone well trained, in well
conceived equipment, often described by peers as a cautious and concientious,
then it may get you to think "it could have been me. . ."

What's important (and sometimes forgotten) is to be sensitive to the situation,
as some people are suffering through a real tragedy at that moment. If some
family member were to browse to an aviation group looking for answers, only to
read that the pilot must have been an idiot . . .

I think the real knee-jerk, though, is often a defensive reaction. Accidents
give very bad publicity to aviation, and knees jerk all over the place,
particularly anti-aviation knees. Fortunately, injuries to "innocents" on the
ground are exceedingly rare - otherwise airports would be closing at a much
faster rate than they currently are.

Developers with greedy eyes set on airport properties have very sensitive
knees.

Greg