Originally Posted by Propflux01
Now, with all this alpha this and beta that computer stuff, a question remains. If the airplane were equipped with traditional cable and roller flight controls, would any of this have even been an issue?
No.
At that speed and altitude, he would've crashed anyway.
The airplane prevented a stall. If it had allowed a stall, the airplane would've hit the trees with a different impact angle. Increasing AOA above stall causes a DECREASE IN LIFT. So, the computer optimized lift. IF the computer had allowed the pilot to have full control, it would've crashed, because what the pilot wanted - more AOA - wasn't going to help an airplane with no thrust, on the edge of stall that was about to hit the trees.
Being at 30 feet, on the edge of stall, and at idle, was the cause of the crash - "the airplane didn't respond" is the claim.
But that's like a guy who crashed his car while going 60 MPH downhill on ice, saying that "the brakes didn't respond".
Of course they didn't. The ABS prevented a skid. But the reason you crashed was your decision to put the car in a position from which no one, and no system, could recover.
