c5flyer of Bangor, ME I suspect the airspeed indicator may have been blocked by freezing rain. If so, the airspeed will read artificially high. If airspeed is high, a pilot will normally raise the nose and or reduce power to slow the jet down. This could have led to her demise thinking that her attitude indicator was malfunctioning. She could have "believed" the airspeed indicator and ignored the fact that on her attitude indicator that the nose was too high which would lead to a wing stall and a precipitous loss of altitude. These jets have two attitude indicators, one of which is a backup attitude indicator. A quick cross check of both indicators would have confirmed that they were in agreement and working properly. (This is only a theory -- many other things could have happened that night, but I have personally experienced a frozen pitot tube and had the airspeed reading incorrectly. Also the static air sensor could have had ice blockage which leads to other instrumentation problems as well.) I feel for her family -- what a terrible loss.report abuse

wearinwings of steamboat, CO Being a pilot myself i know what kind of things go on during preflight. she had to have looked at the weather and and found icing conditions at the time of her departure. when i went back i found icing all the way to 5000 feet. eventhough her aircraft had de-ice and anti-ice it was still not a good idea to takeoff (ice is the worst kind of weather for a pilot). As for the attitude indicator failing (it is called the attitude indicator ANDRE DUMONT) it is a possibility, However there are two different instruments in that aircraft. The odds of both failing is vary far. In addition pilots are trained to deal with the loss of an instrument, the attitude indicator being one of them.report abuse

mick of brunswick, ME Did this pilot get clearance for take-off from the tower??? This person should indeed be FIRED!!!!!report abuse

Jack Mcgillicuddy of Skowhegan, ME May they both rest in peace, knowing that they both made a good diffrence in our world, my deepest sympathy for family and friends.report abuse