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Report: Marine jet too low, too fast in Italy accident

wreckage
Aftermath of the accident  

In this story:

March 10, 1998
Web posted at: 8:53 p.m. EST (0153 GMT)

From Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Marines Corps is expected to release the results of an investigation later this week into an accident last month in which 20 people were killed when a low-flying Marine jet sliced a cable supporting a gondola.

Sources tell CNN that the investigation is finished and that there is no question that the Marine EA-6B Prowler was flying too low and too fast when it clipped the cable February 3 in the Italian Alps near Cavalese.

But there are other questions including whether the accident resulted from pilot error or from irresponsible joy-riding that could be considered criminal negligence.

Sources say there is enough evidence that the crew was hot-dogging to warrant discipline and legal proceedings that would determine if any -- or all -- of the four-man crew should be court-martialed.

The Marines insist that flying below authorized limits is not tolerated, and the crew's squadron commander was relieved last month when a home video was found indicating that he had engaged in a similar joyride.

"I do not believe this establishes a pattern and I believe these are rare occurrences -- very, very tragic and unfortunate occurrences," says Marine Maj. Gen. Michael Ryan.

Charges would be in military court

The Marine jet was supposed to stay above 2,000 feet. The crew thought the limit was 1,000 feet, but investigators say that at 370 feet, the plane was too low for there to have been any confusion.

And sources say that while one of the plane's altimeters did appear to have malfunctioned, the other clearly displayed the correct altitude.

Italy has requested authority to prosecute the pilots, but sources say that if charges of negligent homicide are to be brought, they will be brought in a U.S. military court.

"In the past, under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization status of forces agreement, we have not agreed to local jurisdiction," says Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon. "But, as I said, this case is still under review."

The larger question is whether U.S. military pilots routinely violate altitude rules, and whether commanders wink at the practice until something goes wrong.

 
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