Shouldering Blame

There were two recent articles showing how people do not want to accept responsibility for their own actions. One dealt with the lawsuit over the deaths of people who were killed by trains in Del Mar (“Husband Files Suit Over Wife’s Death,” April 13), and the second dealt with the pilot who crashed his corporate jet into Otay Mountain (“Warning Not Required on Ill-Fated Takeoff,” April 16).

This train-related lawsuit, like many others, is based on greed. Do not blame the railroad for the use of the convenient, but non-standard, crossing near the Del Mar station. No one makes any individual use this crossing. Anyone could use the crossing at the nearby surface street. One does not need an overpass to cross the tracks. Crossing a railroad track is a very simple activity, look both ways and then cross. Do not try to play “beat the train,” it will always win.

The corporate pilot is also to blame for the unfortunate deaths of his passengers, his crew and himself. Being a pilot myself, I know the bottom line is that I am responsible for the safety of the flight. If there is confusion, do not make the flight. It appears that the pilot did not have current, adequate visual flight rules (VFR) charts in his aircraft. If he did, the height of the mountain would have been quite evident and adjustments could have been made before departure. Why was he departing VFR and worrying about staying below 3,000 feet? At that time of night, and with the type of aircraft he was flying, an instrument flight rules (IFR) departure would have been more common. Why get your IFR clearance in the air? Was he in a big hurry? It cost him.

Please do not blame the flight service specialist for the actions of the pilot as the owner of the company supplying the aircraft is quoted as doing. It is not the specialist’s job to tell every pilot what obstructions are out there.

DON HAGEDORN, San Diego