[from the report]
A19 (WITNESS): Because from standing--initially running up on it I couldn’t tell that it was even an aircraft, sir, but when you moved to the side of it you could see the bottom of it. I could see one of the wheels facing the sky, sir.
On April 9, 2010, Eden Prairie's Randall Voas crashed a CV-22 Osprey in Afghanistan. Four people died in the crash--including Voas--while the surviving 16 passengers were all injured, many severely.
Immediately after the tragedy, Eden Prairie's upright citizens named Voas a national hero. The local Veterans Committee made Voas a featured honoree at this years' Memorial Day event--and his name has been added to the Wall of Honor at the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial.
The Eden Prairie Veterans Committee gushes 'Major Voas was one of the Air Force's most experienced and skilled V-22 "Osprey" pilots and his contributions to Air Force Special Operations Command and his country are immeasurable.'
On July 24, Eden Prairie citizens and dignitaries participated in Randy's Run, honoring Voas' 'heroism'. US Rep. Erik Paulsen officiated; Paulsen's brother won the footrace.
The Eden Prairie News unquestioningly accepted Voas' designation as 'hero,' without nuance or explanation. Randall Voas' obituary asserts: 'His final moments were a testimonial to all that he represented in life when he demonstrated his heroism by saving the lives of sixteen fellow comrades.'
Prior to this evening's report-issuance, just one Eden Prairie resident publicly objected to calling Randall Voas 'a hero'. His viewpoint was deemed so far 'beyond the pale' as to not require polite acknowledgement.
"The board president determined 10 factors substantially contributed to the mishap," says the report.
These ten factors include:
These ten factors include:
*'inadequate weather planning'
*'a poorly executed low visibility approach'
*'the mishap crew's task saturation'
*'the mishap crew's pressing to accomplish their first combat mission of the deployment.'
The report concludes that the crash was not caused by 'enemy action' or loss of engine power.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Sky Talk blog has additional detail--and adds:
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Sky Talk blog has additional detail--and adds:
An Air Force investigation has concluded that the fatal crash of a CV-22 Osprey aircraft in Afghanistan last April resulted from a number of factors, largely flight crew mistakes.
