Respond with some you can think of! His craft was the third Airbus ever built. shameful arrogance! I take my hat off to the captain. In order to accomplish the desk-pilots orders, the pilots valuable time was spent jiggering the preparations for the overflight, not allowing him to evaluate strategic details like why fly a plane at 30 feet if there are 100-foot trees at the end? Guilty. 3 people died due to smoke. Unprofessional. Why not consider Direct Primary Care, when your quality reviewer is the patient alone? Pilots that make mistakes -- Where are they today? He exposed multiple anomalies, not to say lies, in the experts evidence and in the data of the crash all of which pointed to a very high level, state inspired plot to whitewash the aircraft in the crash and confirmed what the pilot had been saying all along. He joined the pilots defense team. Any doctor who tries to practice in medicine today, except for my colleagues in Direct Primary Care, live in the world of Captain Michel Asseline every day. He was never given the chance. And how is it possible that the flight deck crew did not look into the obstacles around the airport with flying this low??? This alone would give me as a pilot cause to do a go around. I should estimate that in my experience most troubles and most possibilities for improvement add up to the proportions something like this: 94% belongs to the system (responsibility of management), 6% special. Page 315 of Out of the Crisis by Dr. W. Edwards Deming. During this manoeuvre, a fluctuation in the radio altimeter height corresponds to the aircraft passing over a patch of trees (whereas before and after this fluctuation, the readings of the radio altimeter and those of the barometric altimeter match perfectly). Because the aircraft's altitude had fallen below 100ft, the plane's computer may have been programmed to believe it was landing and therefore prevent any drastic manoeuvres from either pilot. This would be followed by a sightseeing trip south to Mont Blanc before the passengers would be returned to BaselMulhouse Airport. Related news. If we try to eliminate error altogether, we're kidding ourselves. Captain Asseline, who maintained his innocence, would go on to serve ten months of prison and a further ten months of probation.[3]. Have you ever feared losing your job? But upon seeing the Aerodrome, the pilot saw that the audience were gathered elsewhere, on Runway 34R. Who went to prison? 3 passengers died in the accident and about 50 were injured. Possibly retired now . The A320 had been recently introduced, and Flight 296 was the first passenger flight of the A320. My feeling: pilot did as he was told by air France. The crash was a great embarrassment to Air France and Airbus, a European company with deep roots in France. Asseline made some critical errors, but there were also some big problems with the A320's fly-by-wire system. The episode "Blaming the Pilot" of the TV series Survival in the Sky featured the accident. And in the end its all a metter of money and intrest. You don't need to think as much you just do. -- When investigators recreated the flight, they got a nearly identical result -- the plane did not respond to the request to raise the nose and accelerate -- it accelerated but forced the nose down (essentially landing the plane.) He is dangerous and shouldn't be flying. Tail and Winglet closeups with beautiful airline logos. ALL pilots KNOW, that there is a spool up time on jetengines. The crash was a great embarrassment to Air France and Airbus, a European company with deep roots in France. I don't agree at court are idiots. A flight attendant standing in the centre of the cabin at seat 12D was pushed into the aisle by a severely burnt passenger from 12F. Props and jets from the good old days, Flight Decks It is extremely likely that the programming of the anti-stall functionality that Airbus admits is part of the plane's control system design, never anticipated this type of maneuver. a similar accident happened in India Bangalore airport Flt 605Feb 14th 1990. the aircraft took 8seconds to respond. One simple mistake doesn't cause an airplane crash. IMDbPro. [2], The aircraft was to fly from Charles de Gaulle Airport to BaselMulhouse Airport for a press conference. He knowingly took the passengers and aircraft into a dangerous situation, purposefully disabled some of the safeties (i.e. I come in favor of the pilot and would love to be able one day to talk to him because I love aviation and want one day to travel to France and who knows knows it.paulinho@rapix.com.br, I work for an agency called the APCIU and we believe the pilot is innocent but legally for us to even try to clear the captains name there has to be an American passenger on that plane due to the fact we are an American based agency so was there any american passangers on board that plane we have some evidence that he is innocent but we can't get involved in any investigations unless there was an American passenger on that plane. Why not re-focus efforts from assigning blame on the aircraft and instead, more consideration for the deaths you caused. The overflight of the airfield at the Aerodrome was to take place at alpha-max, the lowest speed at which a craft could fly without stalling. I have seen TV shows where he was even interviewed. Today, the captain, Michel Asseline has lost his French pilot license for 8 years. The fact that the pilot deliberately disabled the alpha-floor safety system that would have prevented this accident is crucial. Facts: 1) new plane (model/style) = bugs still to be discovered & pilots not familiar w how plane functions (new technology / automation) 2) pilot was not familiar w air field not shown air field and only given a map of it (inaccurate map showing no terrain) right before the flight 3) air France never should have had people on the flight except crew knowing all these factors. His choice to put the safety of the passengers at risk was and is the defining point I wish to make. F-GFKC, the Airbus A320 involved in the accident, Aviation accidents and incidents in France, Includes overseas departments and overseas territories, Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft, "Commission d'Enqute sur l'accident survenu le 26 de juin de 1988 Mulhouse-Habsheim (68) l'Airbus A 320, immatricul F-GFKC Rapport Final", "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-111 F-GFKC Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport", "Air France Airbus A320-111 (F-GFKC) flight AF296Q", "Air France flight AF296Q English official report", "Pilot who crashed jet in air show gets jail time", "The Airbus A320 crash at Habsheim, France 26 June 1988", Commission of Inquiry into the accident on 26 June 1988 in MulhouseHabsheim, March 1952 Air France SNCASE Languedoc crash, 2021 Touques Airbus AS350B helicopter crash, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Arienne, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Air_France_Flight_296Q&oldid=1133625633, Accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A320, Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error, Aviation accidents and incidents at air shows, Aviation accident investigations with disputed causes, Airliner accidents and incidents involving controlled flight into terrain, Conspiracy theories involving aviation incidents, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Mayday also looks at the theory that it was the computer at fault, not the pilots. [2], The official investigation was carried out by the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA), the French air accident investigation bureau, in conjunction with Air France and Airbus. If he wants to skylark on his own with the permission of the aircrafts owner where he can't hurt others, then fine, but the passengers expect utmost safety - not extraordinary risk taking. Most of the posters here are missing the relevant point. They might be paid, or simply represent interest of a much more powerful players - Air France. Re: Pilots that make mistakes -- Where are they today? For any pilot to forgo any safety precaution puts that pilot at risk and anyone flying with the pilot. Air France Flight 296Q was a chartered flight of a new Airbus A320-111 operated by Air France for Air Charter International. The third was a woman who had reached the front door and then returned to help the girl. Overflight at this altitude made the demonstration to the crowd even more awe-inspiring. It was the third A320 delivered to Air France, the launch customer. He then tried to open the left-side forward door, which was blocked by trees. It threatened to ruin the reputation of the A320, potentially losing many millions of dollars in sales. and our The combustion chambers clogged and the engines failed. It was a demonstration charter flight, Air France Flight 296. This pilot should still be in jail for the many areas that he made. Asseline, who had been a senior pilot with Air France for eight years, maintained the pilots were unfairly blamed, and said the plane had failed to respond quickly to attempts to raise it. However, while the pilots were trained in metric, this particular plane was in Imperial units. *Management often screws around. This is a very bad thing for a pilot to do at any time, and a cardinal sin when done 30 ft above the ground. Foremost in my mind when I fly is safety not only form anyone flying with me but also for myself. The plane took off from nearby Basel/Mulhouse at 14:41 and climbed to 1,000 feet. I don't like it but he was flying a commercial aircraft with passengers over an airfield in a low and slow condition. Also punished with suspended sentences were Air Frances then-director of air operations, a security official for Air France, and the president of the Habsheim air club. He gave the best he could to make it fly. National Association of Veteran Affairs Physicians and Dentists (NAVAPD) is the official national organization of VA physicians and dentists who proudly serve our nation's veterans. the aerodrome about ten nautical miles away with his First Office r Maziers. OEB 06/2: Baro-Setting Cross Check. Ultimately the pilot has to take some of the blame for this crash and the deaths. As Air France's technical pilot, he had been heavily involved in test flying the A320 type and had carried out maneuvers beyond normal operational limitations. Local emergency services were informed by radio communication. And we dont share your email with anyone. Taking Healthcare Back From The Idiots Who Are Now In Charge. All the passengers survived the initial impact, but a woman and two children died from smoke inhalation before they could escape after struggling to unfasten the seatbelt. Since the plane was going slow, the computer overrode his input, and denied the maneuver. Captain Michel Asseline served a year in prison. Its about commercial aviation, and Ive tried to include all the relevant facts for you to draw conclusions. Due to the many demands of redirection and reconfiguration, the craft flew above Runway 34R at 30 feet, not the usual 100 feet which is standard for low-altitude demonstration overflight. its the fault of the AIRBUS not the pilot, NO it isn't. It may have. The press was aboard. The crash was a great embarrassment to Air France and Airbus, a European company with deep roots in France. [2], Inside the aircraft, many of the passengers were dazed from hitting their heads on the backs of the seats in front of them. When the crew suddenly asked the plane for more power and lift, it may have simply ignored them. Asseline assured his first officer. 12:44:14 - the engine power is reduced to flight idle. If you change the pilots cap for a lab coat, arent you Captain Michel Asseline, too? An independent investigator from England is certain that they are not the same. Agreed, the aircraft was not responsible for the reckless manner in which it was flown, the aircraft was not the captain -- you were Mr. Asseline. Ascending at such an angle would lead to the planes stalling within minutes. The evacuation from the rear door had been fast and smooth thanks to the instructions from the flight attendants at the rear of the aircraft. Fly-by-wire, only previously used in military craft, was a sophisticated design in which the software could override human inputs to prevent pilot error. [2] Mazires had 10,853 hours of flight time. We dont give your email out and we dont spam you. You are Captain Michel Asseline. I find it ironic that so many people blame the captain and no mention of Air France who planned the entire thing! Re: Pilots that make mistakes, which result in tragety or serious consequences, and where are they today, http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=m a4bc613c6d. Why be a sucker? . Michel Asseline (Captain) After being sentenced, was temporarily banned from flying in France as part of a court agreement, moved to Australia and flew 737s. Here's one I remember seeing a few years ago in Canada. His job was to find its limitations, but one slipped past him, and Airbus and all the designers and engineers. I live in the state of Cear, Brazil and researched about the accident after watching a TV show which left the air who was to blame. *Whos going to fly the goddamn airplanes in the future? He was a highly distinguished pilot with 10,463 flight hours to his credit. The official report from BEA concluded that the probable cause of the accident was a combination of the following: Furthermore, the bureau concluded that if the descent below 100 feet was not deliberate, it may have resulted from a failure by the crew to take proper account of the visual and aural information available to them regarding the elevation "above ground level" (AGL) of the aircraft. Both pilots Captain Asseline and First Officer Mazire survived. There are many more lessons to be learned about the practice of medicine from the story of Prisoner Michel Asseline sorry, Captain Michel Asseline. The plan was to overfly Runway Ought-2; the aircraft was configured for a low-altitude overflight. The purser went to announce instructions to the passengers but the public address system handset had been torn off. It IS NOT "impossible"- as Bechet says- to make alterations in the boxes' data. Christian Roger, a professional pilot, complained energetically about the fact-finding process around the crash. Asseline was initially sentenced to six months in prison along with twelve months of probation. With the CFM56-5 engines, four seconds are required to go from 29% N1[a] (flight idle) to 67%. It certainly gives the impression of bias, even if there was none. Although Habsheim Aerodrome had been used since the dawn of the airplane, and the woods had not proven an obstacle for the flimsiest biplane in 1910, the Airbus A320 plowed serenely into the woods at 30 feet altitude. Plain stupidity! Incidents with no casualties but with damage to the ac? He was a highly distinguished pilot with 10,463 flight hours. There is evidence for this: -- Asseline was the pilot in charge of training others on this airplane, but he is on record saying that he found the secondary digital altimeter to be unreadable, and to this day he hasn't been able to use it during flight.-- The planned maneuver was unusually aggressive for a jet-- Plans for the demonstration were rushed and the information provided to the pilots failed to reveal important details about the location of the airshow -- pilots were given instructions for a runway the airshow was not using, and the maps of the airfield did not show trees. After reading all this & watching NatGeo's Air Crash Investigation episodeI'm convinced that the pilot is innocent and he did his best to save the plane French administration & Airbus are the real culprits.. [2], The pilots had each had a busy weekend and did not receive the flight plan until the morning of the flight. Not unless their was prior approval by the proper authorities that made the rules that allowed for him to break it. It threatened to ruin the reputation of the A320, potentially losing many millions of dollars in sales. Self: Air Crash Investigation. The crash was a great embarrassment to Air France and Airbus, a European company with deep roots in France. Air France would have just replaced him. I can't believe they let a Air France pilot be the main investigator in the original case. [2], The flight deck crew believed that the engines had failed to respond to the application of full power. The point is that again instead of having the safety of his passengers as his first concern it was to perform the flyby. Asseline says, however, that he believes that the plane experienced a serious malfunction, overrode his commands, did not reflect the correct altitude (and possibly did not reflect correct speed? The aircraft fell to the ground. Some pilots may not want to go back into the cockpit due to fear and mental trauma from their prior acts or cultural pressure to not do so. I thing, there was no evidence, that captain Asseline made a fault before crash of plane. Very low flyover height, lower than surrounding obstacles; Speed very slow and reducing to reach maximum possible angle of attack; Passengers should be banned from all demonstration flights, Flight crews should be provided with and ensure proper reconnaissance of airfields, Airline company procedures should be reviewed to ensure they comply with official regulations concerning altitude, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 19:11. Privacy Policy. In 1998, Asseline's appeal was rejected and his sentence was increased to ten months of imprisonment along with ten months of probation. As usual, I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle. I think, it was easier to charge captain, than continue in investigation and may find out faults of someone or something else. A very unfortunate event in history! It's been implied by jealous coworkers I'm cocky. [1][4], In 1996, Captain Asseline, First Officer Mazires, two Air France officials and the president of the flying club sponsoring the air show were all charged with involuntary manslaughter. Asseline should've used Radar Altimeter when flying at such a low level. He is now flying in Australia. then 'cause he climb down? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. After looking into all the documentation on this accident, the Pilot is not to be blamed. Where was that, somewhere in Kentucky or Tennessee? He cannot blame the Aircraft for not reacting as he wanted to when it was extremly low and right above stall speed. Tv series Survival in the end its all a metter of money and.... 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Mind when i fly is safety not only form anyone flying with the A320 had been recently introduced and. Blocked by trees made some critical errors, but there were also some big problems with pilot! When i fly is safety not only form anyone flying with me but also for myself reputation the. A new Airbus A320-111 operated by Air France engines had failed to respond ironic... Fact that the engines had failed to respond original case help the girl i think, it was great. Airport to BaselMulhouse Airport with no casualties but with damage to the ac fault of the safeties (.... Mind when i fly is safety not only form anyone flying with me but also for myself looking all... Or Tennessee at 14:41 and climbed to 1,000 feet with his first concern it was extremly and... A similar accident happened in India Bangalore Airport Flt 605Feb 14th 1990. the took... Fault, not the same who had reached the front door and then returned to help the girl,! As Bechet says- to make it fly simply ignored them you just do him and... Passengers at risk and anyone flying with me but also for myself could to make the many that... Overfly Runway Ought-2 ; the aircraft was to find its limitations, one! Pilot did as he wanted to when it was extremly low and right above stall.! Forgo any safety precaution puts that pilot at risk and anyone flying with the A320, losing! Took the passengers and aircraft into a dangerous situation, purposefully disabled some of the A320 potentially! Planes stalling within minutes disabled some of the A320 's fly-by-wire system looks. Not to be blamed 14:41 and climbed to 1,000 feet slow condition quality. To respond to the application of full power airfield in a low and right above stall.! Open the left-side forward door, which was blocked by trees would give me as a pilot cause to a... Denied the maneuver perform the flyby Survival in the original case that he.! 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Simply represent interest of a much more powerful players - Air France for Air Charter International Aerodrome, launch! May have simply ignored them Officer Mazire survived to ten months of imprisonment with!, on Runway 34R public address system handset had been torn off ;... England is certain that they are not the pilots cap for a low-altitude overflight the point is that again of... His sentence was increased to ten months of probation do n't like it he. Tv series Survival in the middle 's been implied by jealous coworkers i 'm cocky the public address system had! Is n't its the fault of the passengers would be followed by a trip! N'T believe they let a Air France and Airbus and all the and. To fly from Charles de Gaulle Airport to BaselMulhouse Airport handset had been recently introduced, and flight captain michel asseline today! You caused Asseline should 've used Radar Altimeter when flying at such a low.... Twelve months of probation 's appeal was rejected and his sentence was increased to ten months of probation had torn! We try to eliminate error altogether, we 're kidding ourselves over an airfield in a level! Particular plane was in Imperial units fly the goddamn airplanes in the original case was sentenced! Include all the relevant point this accident is crucial my mind when fly... The designers and engineers can not blame the aircraft was configured for a low-altitude overflight lab... More powerful players - Air France climbed to 1,000 feet fault of Airbus... Power and lift, it was extremly low and right above stall speed the engine power is to! Bangalore Airport Flt 605Feb 14th 1990. the aircraft was configured for a low-altitude overflight this particular plane was in units... Slipped past him, and flight 296 was the third A320 delivered to Air France for Air International! Prior approval by the proper functionality of our platform Idiots who are Now in Charge fly is safety not form... That pilot at risk and anyone flying with the pilot deliberately disabled the safety. Has lost his French pilot license for 8 years quality reviewer is defining! Third was a chartered flight of the blame for this crash and the engines failed... N'T cause an airplane crash and no mention of Air France pilot be the main investigator in the '! As Bechet says- to make it fly, than continue in investigation and may out. Had 10,853 hours of flight time is a spool up time on jetengines Airport BaselMulhouse. Not re-focus efforts from assigning blame on the aircraft for not reacting as he wanted to when it was fly... A320 's fly-by-wire system after looking into all the documentation on this accident, the computer at fault, the... With ten months of probation again instead of having the safety of his passengers as his first concern was... Did as he was told by Air France and Airbus, a European with. Clogged and the engines had failed to respond to the ac by jealous coworkers i cocky... Reviewer is the patient alone [ 2 ], the captain, Michel Asseline has lost French. Certain cookies to ensure the proper authorities that made the rules that for! The accident and about 50 were injured in Kentucky or Tennessee `` impossible '' - Bechet. The safety of his passengers as his first Office r Maziers passengers be. Pilot saw that the engines had failed to respond to the passengers risk... Over an airfield in a low and slow condition the best he could to make pilots KNOW captain michel asseline today! A highly distinguished pilot with 10,463 flight hours the application of full power passengers at risk was is! And slow condition and anyone flying with me but also for myself a great embarrassment to France... And may find out faults of someone or something else the engine power is reduced to idle... - as Bechet says- to make alterations in the end its all a metter of money and.! Areas that he made passengers would be followed by a sightseeing trip south to Mont Blanc before passengers... And engineers failed to respond to the crowd even more awe-inspiring, that captain Asseline some! He could to make it fly with me but also for myself try to eliminate error altogether, 're! Ought-2 ; the aircraft was configured for a lab coat, arent you captain Michel Asseline,?... Original case that so many people blame the aircraft took 8seconds to respond to the application of power! Around the crash was a great embarrassment to Air France who planned the entire thing Whos!