RJ drags wingtip on landing

Maybe I'm a witch in church on this one, but it seems to me that barring major extenuating circumstances like mechanical failure or the other crew member wrestling over the controls a la swa in New York, striking a wingtip on a calm wind landing in a modern-ish part 25 jet is a pretty big failure at one of the most foundational tasks in flying an airplane. To the extent that the individuals employers ought to seriously consider whether that individual ought to be entrusted with the controls of a multi million dollar machine. And examine what happened in training that led the individual involved to think that this was the way to land an airplane.
 
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Roger Roger said:
Maybe I'm a witch in church on this one, but it seems to me that barring major extenuating circumstances like mechanical failure or the other crew member wrestling over the controls a la swa in New York, striking a wingtip on a calm wind landing in a modern-ish part 25 jet is a pretty big failure at one of the most foundational tasks in flying an airplane. To the extent that the individuals employers ought to seriously consider whether that individual ought to be entrusted with the controls of a multi million dollar machine.
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While I agree, I partially disagree too. Mistakes and accidents happen, to the best of everyone.
 
Roger Roger said:
Maybe I'm a witch in church on this one, but it seems to me that barring major extenuating circumstances like mechanical failure or the other crew member wrestling over the controls a la swa in New York, striking a wingtip on a calm wind landing in a modern-ish part 25 jet is a pretty big failure at one of the most foundational tasks in flying an airplane. To the extent that the individuals employers ought to seriously consider whether that individual ought to be entrusted with the controls of a multi million dollar machine. And examine what happened in training that led the individual involved to think that this was the way to land an airplane.
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Both points of view are correct.

A pilot's job is to make sure that the only parts of the airplane that ever touches pavement are the tires, and those tires should never leave the pavement (metaphorically speaking for you Alaska guys). However "stuff" happens to even the best pilots and none of us is immune.

As long as the crew was following procedure and the approach was stabilized, this kind of honest mistake should not be a career ender. The crew in question will certainly have to do a carpet dance, and some extra sim time, then they will go back to work. I'm not the biggest union cheerleader, but this kind of thing is exactly why pilots need representation.
 
Roger Roger said:
Maybe I'm a witch in church on this one, but it seems to me that barring major extenuating circumstances like mechanical failure or the other crew member wrestling over the controls a la swa in New York, striking a wingtip on a calm wind landing in a modern-ish part 25 jet is a pretty big failure at one of the most foundational tasks in flying an airplane. To the extent that the individuals employers ought to seriously consider whether that individual ought to be entrusted with the controls of a multi million dollar machine. And examine what happened in training that led the individual involved to think that this was the way to land an airplane.
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Bad things happen to good people. Pretty naive to think something like this can't happen to you, I or anyone else out there.
 
Roger Roger said:
Maybe I'm a witch in church on this one, but it seems to me that barring major extenuating circumstances like mechanical failure or the other crew member wrestling over the controls a la swa in New York, striking a wingtip on a calm wind landing in a modern-ish part 25 jet is a pretty big failure at one of the most foundational tasks in flying an airplane. To the extent that the individuals employers ought to seriously consider whether that individual ought to be entrusted with the controls of a multi million dollar machine. And examine what happened in training that led the individual involved to think that this was the way to land an airplane.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain you haven't flown a heavy (well, more heavy than a GA plane) swept wing jet. Lateral instability, close to the ground, even in no wind conditions, isn't an unusual thing. Heat differential in the pavement is often enough to generate unequal lift when slow.

That said, yes, striking a wingtip is kind of frowned upon but you are sounding a bit like a resident of Salem in the late 1600s.
 
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BobDDuck said:
I'm fairly certain you haven't flown a heavy (well, more heavy than a GA plane) swept wing jet. Lateral instability, close to the ground, even in no wind conditions, isn't an unusual thing. Heat differential in the pavement is often enough to generate unequal lift when slow.

That said, yes, striking a wingtip is kind of frowned upon but you are sounding a bit like a resident of Salem in the late 1600s.
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I guess my perspective is thousands of pilots manage to make it their whole careers without denting a swept wing even in crosswinds, it makes me wonder what's wrong with a guy that does it in calm wind. Chocking it up to bad training I'd buy off on, but calling it "bad luck" seems pretty weak.
 
Roger Roger said:
I guess my perspective is thousands of pilots manage to make it their whole careers without denting a swept wing even in crosswinds, it makes me wonder what's wrong with a guy that does it in calm wind. Chocking it up to bad training I'd buy off on, but calling it "bad luck" seems pretty weak.
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Faulty perspective.
 
BobDDuck said:
I'm fairly certain you haven't flown a heavy (well, more heavy than a GA plane) swept wing jet. Lateral instability, close to the ground, even in no wind conditions, isn't an unusual thing. Heat differential in the pavement is often enough to generate unequal lift when slow.

That said, yes, striking a wingtip is kind of frowned upon but you are sounding a bit like a resident of Salem in the late 1600s.
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I never experienced lateral instability too much, but that was likely due to never being slow in a "too slow" sense, and having touchdown speeds that likely had a fair amount of safety margin built in. Plus, no slipping maneuvers, etc.

Curious to learn the details of this one when it does come out.
 
Roger Roger said:
I guess my perspective is thousands of pilots manage to make it their whole careers without denting a swept wing even in crosswinds, it makes me wonder what's wrong with a guy that does it in calm wind. Chocking it up to bad training I'd buy off on, but calling it "bad luck" seems pretty weak.
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I wouldn't chock it up to "bad luck". I see it rather as a bad day. We all have had those days where things didn't go the way we like it for reason or another. There are those contributing factors such as fatigue, mind is somewhere else other than work, equipment malfunction (every plane in the fleet has its own personality), and etc...
 
Roger Roger said:
I guess my perspective is thousands of pilots manage to make it their whole careers without denting a swept wing even in crosswinds, it makes me wonder what's wrong with a guy that does it in calm wind. Chocking it up to bad training I'd buy off on, but calling it "bad luck" seems pretty weak.
Click to expand...

If you've never seen anything hairy at work, then you're likely not paying attention.

Things happen.
 
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