After listening to the ATC tapes, I am at a loss for adequate words. About minute 17 is where the airplane goes down.
After zero “air carrier” fatalities in 2 years, the Lexington, KY disaster being the last, we’ve taken another hit. I don’t care if you are a newly minted private pilot or “Sully” himself, when we see an airplane go down like this and every soul on board perish, it is not only humbling, but is otherwise horrible in every conceivable way.
All we as pilots can do is wait for the investigation to complete and see what we can learn from the facts. From the sound of the ATC tapes, it looks like icing was most likely a factor. There is some speculation that perhaps the tail iced up pretty good and resulted in what is called a tail plane stall. Effectively, the tail is designed to pull downward in flight. If ice accretion occurs effecting its aerodynamic qualities, the tail could conceivably cease to pull downward causing the nose to drop. The problem is that should you recognize this is happening, the recovery involves pitching up to reduce the angle of attack on the tail plane (because it is inverted compared to the main wing). But most airliners (I don’t know of any) do not give you any indication of a tail plane stall except from what you will feel performance wise. Considering the low altitude of this airplane at the time of its last transmission, coupled with the severe pitch down angle of impact, this idea is plausible.
My thoughts and well wishes are with the friends and families of those who perished.
Someday we will know, where the pilots go
When their work on earth is through.
Where the air is clean, and the engines gleam,
And the skies are always blue.
They have flown alone, with the engine’s moan,
As they sweat the great beyond,
And they take delight, at the awesome sight
of the world spread far and yon.
Yet not alone, for above the moan, when the earth is
out of sight,
As they make their stand, He takes their hand,
and guides them through the night.
How near to God are these men of sod,
Who step near death’s last door?
Oh, these men are real, not made of steel,
But He knows who goes before,
And how they live, and love and are beloved,
But their love is most for air.
And with death about, they will still fly out,
And leave their troubles there.
He knows these things, of men with wings,
And He knows they are surely true.
And He will give a hand, to such a man
‘Cause He’s a pilot too.
— unknown