by beaky » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:49 pm
Arrgh, that one is terrible; I remember it.
Here's what I think:
1)High density altitude
2) Qverloaded
3)Stupid people too close too the "runway"
4) Pilot did not wait quite long enough before pulling up... he was doing okay at one point, once he got the yawing under control, then he pulled back and it stalled in the classic fashion.
But behind all of the above, I think, was very bad "get-there-itis"... airborne medical evacuations, even with helicopters, often go bad because of the sense of urgency. People lose their focus in all the excitement.
The lady in front may have been a factor, but it was not a very good plan to begin with. It would be hard to tell her to stay behind for safety's sake, but...between her weight and her being so upset, it might have made a big difference.