The Weekly Reflektion 31/2025
In order to understand an accident, a credible sequence of events is required. This is in turn dependent on facts and scientific analyses that verify these facts. When the people involved do not tell the truth, and destroy or manipulate vital evidence, then getting to the root of what happened is difficult. The causes are not properly determined, and any learning is lost. Justice is not done and there is outrage as the guilty are seen to go free and the innocent are unfairly blamed. The tragedy of the accident escalates, and bitterness sets in.
The wreck of the cable car
The wing of the EA-6B Prowler aircrat that hit the cable
How do you get to the truth?
On 3rd February 1998, a United States Marine Corp EA-6B Prowler aircraft was flying in the Trentino area in Italy. Its right wing hit a cable supporting a cable car carrying skiers and tourists from the town of Cavalese. 20 people were killed when the cable car fell to the mountainside below. The aircraft was also damaged but landed safely at the Aviano Air Base.
The aircraft was flying too low and too fast, against regulations. At the time of impact, 870 km/hr at an altitude of about 90 meters in a narrow valley between mountains. The pilot, Captain Richard J. Ashby, and his navigator, Captain Joseph Schweitzer, were put on trial in the United States and found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. It was determined that the maps on board the aircraft did not show the cable car. Ashby claimed he was flying at 305 meters even though the cable was cut at 110 meters. Ashby further claimed that the altimeter was malfunctioning and that he was unaware of the height restrictions, which at the time was minimum level 610 meters. The acquittal of the two pilots caused public outrage in Italy.
In August 1998, Ashby and Schweitzer were court-martialed a second time for obstruction of justice and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. It was revealed that they had destroyed video evidence recorded on the plane on the day of the disaster. This came to light when two other members of the crew received testimonial immunity and decided to disclose the ‘truth’.
Further investigation found that the squadron was deployed at Aviano on 27 August 1997 and were supplied with a directive by the Italian government forbidding flight below 610 m in Trentino-Alto Adige. All the squadron’s pilots received a copy of the directive. A copy was later found, unopened, in the cockpit of the aircraft involved in the crash along with maps marking the cable car wire route.
The investigation determined that Schweitzer had planned the flight route using documents that were out of date. A check of the radar altimeter concluded that it was unlikely that this was operating incorrectly at the time of the incident. There was also an alarm if the aircraft descended to below 240 meters. It is almost certain that this alarm would have been activated before the collision with the cable.
As one of the great advocates of the truth, George Washington,stated in a letter to Charles Thruston on 10th August 1794. ‘Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light’.