Original Message

Apache crash has strong probability of hot-dogging by 2 senior aviators. Not sure about Apache one in Utah. The one at Novosel last year was mechanical. The various Army mid-air were poor discipline as those who have flown military formations know what it takes to do that. Chalk 2 on the controls (plus a crew chief discipline to be alert) never takes eyes off chalk 1. I want to say most of the pilots were younger. Sea Stallion was young guys making poor weather decision (whether due to cockiness or command influence doesn't matter, they probably should have landed when it got bad). Osprey crashes have been all mechanical and are normal if you look at history of mechanical failure of semi-newly fielded militsry aircraft over the years... especially complex ones with some new feature or technology. Bizjet dual engine failure and crash on the hwy was purely mechanical. Have there been a ton more? Small GA planes have engine failures almost every month and probably always will... hard to blame piloting skill on those.