I have not seen the full analysis of the investigation into the accident so can't and would never comment on the accident per se but I CAN say this for something to debate:

Exprerienced pilots and flight engineers such as those crewing the C5 simply DONT make the most fundamantal error which these guys are reported to have made, come to think of it even crews with a LOT less experience than these guys dont make such basic errors, unless there is something fundemantally and seriously wrong, such as excessive crew fatigue.

So, if the investigation team has simply, as reported, put it down to "pilot error" then they need to investigate a LOT deeper and more searchingly into the human factors and find out WHY such basic errors were made and take a long hard look at the CRM being used and practised in the USAF transport fleet and that might mean going right back to the stall training these guys had when they were in flight training as new pilots and engineers, as well as recurrent training. Nothing but nothing should be ruled out until the deep routed source of this crash is determined.

A three engined landing in a four engined jet should be little more than routine. To lose the aircraft as a result of an unlocked reverser light (anyone remember the Everglades TriStar, lost in a CFT accident due to anothing more serious than a failed landing gear indicator bulb ?) has got to set the alarms bells ringing loud and long in the USAF hierachy or MAC at least.

Regards,

David Gladwin.