C-17 Crashes at Elmendorf AFB, crew believed dead

Wow, I'm heading up there on a C-17 in Sept.

Praying for the families of the crew.
 
^^^^

I think I'll wait to see the results of the Safety Board and Accident Investigation before I start making any wild speculations and accusations of impropriety on the aircrew's part.

There are numerous reasons that this may have happened. Making a guess now before all the facts are even collected from the wreckage is just a tad hasty. I'd prefer to give the families some time to mourn before playing an internet blame game.

Instead, I'll just say what is proper for right now: My thoughts and prayers are out to them.
 
Sending my prayers to the families and friends of the crash victims.

I feel so bad for my friend who is a loadmaster on C-17’s here in WA. She was good friends with one of the men killed in the Elmendorf crash. About him:

Master Sgt. Thomas Cicardo, 47, was the loadmaster on the C-17 that crashed Wednesday. He had a long military career, serving at one point in the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, and the Air Force Reserve. He joined the Alaska Air National Guard in 1997 and for his first 11 years he flew the HC-130 on rescue missions, saving the lives of 66 Alaskans during that time. He deployed to Afghanistan several times to fly combat search and rescue missions and also flew personnel recovery missions in the Somali Peninsula. In 2008 Cicardo was selected to be part of the initial group that started the Guard unit that flew the C-17.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/dispa...orce-identifies-four-men-killed-in-c-17-crash
 
yup, sprog, the B-52 incident is one of the videos used in USAFA BCT honor lessons. Usually leaves a room silent after playing.
 
Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.
— Captain A. G. Lamplugh

Unfortunately, even good pilots can make mistakes.
 
The sea is unforgiving...period. You can be as careful as possible....the sea doesn't care. If it wants you, it will take you, as it has thousands and thousands and thousands before.
 
Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.
— Captain A. G. Lamplugh

Unfortunately, even good pilots can make mistakes.

Emphasis added.

Good pilots always make mistakes, for they are human. They just make fewer than bad pilots.
 
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Sadly Captain A. G. Lamplugh didn't add "and that's why you need aviation insurance from me."
 
Sadly Captain A. G. Lamplugh didn't add "and that's why you need aviation insurance from me."

Which gives his assessment all the more credibility.

I'm pretty sure his thoughts were not meant as a personal affront the to Coast Guard.
 
Which gives his assessment all the more credibility.

I'm pretty sure his thoughts were not meant as a personal affront the to Coast Guard.

"More credible"...if not far less objective.

I'm sure if we line up the deaths due to aviation accidents and lives taken by the sea, the sea would have the vast majority.

I of course wouldn't find it as an "affront" as the Coast Guard has planes and helicopters....

I also acknowledge there are far more planes in the sea than ships in the air.
 
This isn't a pissing match thread

Okay, enough on the debate between what is more dangerous. In this thread nobody gives a care.

This is a thread about an aviation mishap that took the lives of several service members.

If you want to start a thread about what is more dangerous then feel free, but it is completely off topic for this thread.
 
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