Soviet Airshow Disaster - What Happened?

[Boo Boo Foo]

Hi fellow dopers. Firstly, forgive me for referring to the word "Soviet" in this modern era but unfortunately I couldn't quite remember if the recent airshow tragedy occurred in the Ukraine or Russia.

I understand a SU27 was involved (a gorgeous looking aircraft to be sure) and that the pilots have been charged for flying outside of their given flight parameters.

Has any more information been uncovered on the matter? Do any of my fellow dopers know the whole story as it were, and would they like to recount it here? Possible links perhaps?

I saw some footage from a hand held video camera which may or may not have been less televised - it showed the plane passing by a spectator from the "belly side" of the aircraft about 40 yards away and only 10 ft off the deck. You couldn't help but think "Ummmm.... fighter aircraft aren't supposed to be that low guys...." and then it clipped a wing and started tumbling. The thing that surprised me was that the plane tumbled a fair few times before any flames occurred. They must be strong airframes for sure.

In closing, my deepest sympathys once again to the tragedy's victims. Bless them all.

[happyheathen]

Initial speculation was engine failure, causing yaw/roll.

Now, the thinking is "pilot error" - charges filed.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5100969%255E1702,00.html

[Broomstick]

Aviation accidents happen for three reasons:

1) people make mistakes

2) things break

3) only God controls the weather

Flying low over the deck, particularly over a crowd of human beings, certainly opens a pilot up for lots of mistakes, and lots of consequences.

The US tends to have stricter (or perhaps better enforced) rules about how low and how close to spectators airshow pilots can fly. Hence, we tend to have less audience carnage that other locations.

Sounds like "stupid pilot tricks" to me.

[happyheathen]

yeah, but it's SO cool when they get down real close ' stuff

:rolleyes:

(heathen does not like airshows/low-level aerobatics - people are too stupid)

[Richard Pearse]

Well, there's nothing inherently dangerous about being low, top dressers do it hour after hour, week after week, year after year.

It's the combination of being low (less margin for error), conducting manoeuvres with no outs (it's kind of important to avoid manoeuvres that involve spending time where mechanical failure leads to certain death and destruction), and usually a failure of some type (either human or mechanical). There's not always a lot that can be done to prevent number 3, so you need to find an arrangement with regards to number 1 and 2.