Monday 19.08.2002, CET 01:53


Fatal Crossair crash blamed on pilot error


The crash of a Crossair aircraft in January 2000 near Zurich was due a series of pilot errors according to a soon-to-be-issued report.

Investigators also found that the pilot was also flying under the influence of medication.

“The pilot’s capacity to analyse and judge a critical situation was diminished by the effects of a medication,” said the report from Switzerland’s Aircraft accident investigation bureau. Two Sunday papers, the “Sonntagsblick” and “dimanche.ch”, published parts of the still-confidential report.

The Moldavian pilot had taken Phenocepan, a tranquilliser made in Ukraine, and commonly used to treat insomnia or depression. This medication, which is a relative of Valium, can induce blurred vision, confusion and vertigo.

The report refuses however to say to what extent the tranquilliser affected the pilot’s capabilities. Under safety guidelines, pilots are not supposed to fly when taking such medication.

The investigators believe the pilot may have lost his sense of direction, suffering from spatial disorientation, and flipped the plane onto its back without realising it.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=111&sid=1280654