14 Friday 4th November, 2011 Probe says hockey team crash caused by pilot error BY VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV focus on cutting costs. ately aborted the takeoff when he saw the nose “Many pilots say that those who cause delays failing to lift,” said Ruben Yesayan, a highly dec- MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian pilot inadver- in flight schedules ... run into various problems orated test pilot who took part in the probe. “The tently put the wheel brakes on during takeoff, at many carriers,” Morozov told a news confer- plane would simply have rolled past the runway causing a crash that killed 44 people including a ence. “Company management doesn’t like it.” and everyone would have been safe.” professional ice hockey team, investigators said Morozov blamed the plane’s owner, Yak- Morozov said the second pilot was taking Wednesday, citing lax oversight and insufficient Service, for failing to observe safety standards phenobarbital — a sedative used to control crew training as key reasons behind the error. and adequately train the crew. The company was seizures that is prohibited for pilots — and that The Interstate Aviation Committee said the closed in September by Russia’s federal aviation also contributed to the disaster. He said the pilot Sept. 7 crash of the Yak-42 plane near Yaroslavl authority following a check that found severe suffered from polyneuropathy — a neurological in central Russia occurred because one of the violations. disorder that could affect the feet and hands and “The company practically lacked a proper cause weakness and loss of sensation. It had passed unnoticed during an official medical cer- tification, but investigators found that the pilot Chris Gayle had consulted private doctors about it. A clash of egos could also have been a factor, Morozov said, noting that the second pilot felt ‘Mediator like the real leader. The plane was already past half of the 3,000- metre (9,900-foot) runway when the crew tried and failed to lift it. Both pilots then threw their needed in body weight on the steering wheels desperately trying to lift the plane and managed to apply even more pressure on the brakes while doing Gayle conflict’ so. The jet sped past the runway and ran nearly 450 metres (1,485 feet) onto the grass before final- amaica Cricket Association secretary Fritz Harris ly taking off. It lifted up too sharply and immedi- believes that the West Indies Cricket Board and Chris ately banked on its wing, crashing on the side of JGayle cannot solve their problems without outside the Volga River, 150 miles (240 kilometres) north- help. east of Moscow. Gayle and the WICB have been involved in a long-run- The team had been heading to Minsk, ning feud that stemmed from comments Gayle made on In this Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 file photo, debris of the crashed Yak-42 jet, is seen, foreground, as a plane lands at an air- Belarus, to play its opening game of the radio after he was not included in the Windies’ squad to face Pakistan after the World Cup. port near Yaroslavl, 150 miles (240 kilometres) northeast of Moscow in Russia. A Russian jet crash that killed 44 peo- Kontinental Hockey League season. Among the dead were Lokomotiv coach and The WICB have said they are willing to negotiate with ple, including an entire professional ice hockey team, was caused by pilot error, investigators said Wednesday, Nov. 2, Gayle if he apologises for the criticism levelled at chief 2011. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, file) National Hockey League veteran Brad McCrimmon, a Canadian; assistant coach executive Ernest Hilaire and coach Ottis Gibson. two pilots accidentally activated the brakes and Alexander Karpovtsev, one of the first Russians “Taking into consideration public statements made by then yanked a control wheel to his chest, pulling system of flight oversight and controls over air to have his name etched on the Stanley Cup as a Gayle with regard to the board and its officers, the board the plane up too sharply in a desperate attempt safety,” Morozov said. member of the New York Rangers; and Pavol requires that Gayle withdraws his comments in order to be to take off. Morozov said both pilots had flown another Demitra, who played for the St. Louis Blues and considered for selection to the West Indies team,” the It was one of the worst aviation disasters type of plane with a slightly different cockpit the Vancouver Canucks and was the Slovakian WICB said in the statement. ever in sports, shocking Russia and the world of layout and apparently had never learned the cor- national team captain. However, Gayle responded by saying that the WICB hockey, as the dead included 36 players, coaches rect position for their feet on takeoff. He said in Other standouts killed were Czech players needed to clarify what he had to apologise for. and staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey the Yak-42, like most other Russian and Western Josef Vasicek, Karel Rachunek and Jan Marek, “They need to come clear and say what Chris Gayle team. The only player who survived the crash planes now, a pilot steers the aircraft by pressing Swedish goalie Stefan Liv, Latvian defenceman should apologise for, and what should Chris Gayle retract, later died of burns. A flight engineer was the the lower part of pedals and activates the brakes Karlis Skrastins and defenseman Ruslan Salei of what are the terms, really and truly,” Gayle told the sole survivor. by pressing their upper part. Belarus. Caribbean Media Corporation. Alexei Morozov, leader of the investigation, But instead of putting their heels on the The crash raised new concerns about “So they need to make it clear, rather than stating just said the crew should have aborted the takeoff cockpit floor as regulations require, one or both Russia’s aviation safety and prompted the presi- one particular thing and leaving the public to speculate the moment they realised it was going wrong. He of the pilots left their feet resting on the pedals dent to suggest replacing all aging Soviet-era again, and just make this one big issue which I’m tired of, said one possible reason the pilot obstinately in line with old habits, inadvertently activating aircraft with Western-made planes. so they need to just cut it out now. still tried to take off was a fear of reprisals from the brakes and slowing the plane down on take- But industry experts say recent Russian air “I think the WICB are playing mind games with Chris his employer. off. disasters have been rooted not just in the age of Gayle. I don’t think the board wants to solve this issue. Industry experts say when Russian crews At first they didn’t notice the brakes were on, the planes, but in a combination of other fac- This needs to be closed as soon as possible and they need to abort takeoffs, make second runs or divert their and then they made the fatal mistake of failing tors, including insufficient crew training, crum- be clear on what I should apologise for. State what in the planes to other airports they can risk losing to halt the takeoff, he said. bling airports, lax government control and wide- interview I need to retract or apologise for.” their bonuses or face other sanctions as carriers “A properly trained pilot would have immedi- spread neglect of safety in the pursuit of profits. Harris has now had his say on the matter, insisting that a mediator is required to negotiate a way out of the impasse. “The JCA stands ready to assist and we have done a lot of work behind the scenes. We have made suggestions to the WICB and offered to help and they have recognised our Lorenzo to skip season-ending Valencia Moto GP offer,” he said. “We made a request to have a facilitator to assist the VALENCIA, Spain process and I have to stress that the external party is need- (AP) — Yamaha ed to assist from both sides. rider Jorge Lorenzo “Since both parties are in a deadlock it’s my opinion will skip Moto GP’s that a third party be brought in to mediate. We could look season-ending to the universities or a legal fraternity for help. We all Valencia Grand agree that this is going on for far too long. We have to wait Prix as he recovers and see how they (the WICB) respond to what Chris has from finger surgery. asked.” The Spanish rider, who lost his world champi- onship title to Ducati’s Casey Fourth episode of Stoner, underwent surgery on the ring finger of his left ‘Country and Western hand after crashing in the warmup for the Australian GP Nights’ at OTSC last month. Yamaha says The fourth episode of the sing and play the guitar. rather than Lorenzo popular ‘Country & Western Ronnie Lietch will be the risking aggravating Nights’ will be held at the guest singer while Brian the injury, test rider most happening club in the Thomas will be the compere. Katsuyuki outskirts of Colombo, the The event is sponsored by Nakasuga will replace him. Old Club Thomians’ Yodha International (Pvt) Stoner has 325 Swimming Club (OTSC) on Ltd., and it is open to all points ahead of November 11, commencing members, their families and Sunday’s race, 8.00 p.m. guests. There will be no cover while Lorenzo will ‘Adrian’ of ‘Red Sands’ charge, says OTSC Social finish the season Jorge Lorenzo will be the soloist who will Secretary, Tusita de Alwis. second with 260. BY ROB HARRIS LONDON (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid as the nine-time winners secured early pas- Madrid advances as Ronaldo sage into the Champions League knockout phase with a 2-0 victory at Lyon on Wednesday.