I seem to remember that all the evidence suggested this was down to pilot error – the go-around was left too late (or started from too low an altitude), and so, despite the fly by wire computer operating pefectly and gaining maximum flight performance as soon as the go-around was instigated, there was simply insufficient distance left in which to spool the engines up sufficiently to allow the ‘plane to gain sufficent speed/altitude before it hit the trees.

So, the FBW system meant that the Airbus was climbing as fast as physically possible (i.e. operating at maximum angle of attack for the airspeed/throttle setting) at the point of first impact, but there was insufficient time/distance to get clear of the trees. The only way to avoid the accident would have been either to initiate go-around earlier in the fly-by, such that the plane had chance to gain height before reaching the trees or to have flown down the runway at a higher altitude so that the plane had to gain less height to clear the trees – the low altitude of the pass and the late action of the captain made the result inevitable, despite FBW.

Had the plane not been a fully automated fly by wire machine the results would probably have been identical, though a non-FBW plane may well have been in a stalled or near-stalled attitude before it even reached the trees due to the crew perhaps having pulled too hard in a desperate attempt to avoid the tree tops….:( .

Moral of the story – FBW will ensure teh ‘plane’s flight envelope cannot be exceeeded, and thus prevented a stall in this case, but it cannot always overcome a case of pilot error.

It’s a bit like relying on ABS (anti-Lock Braking System) on your car to stop an accident – if you leave braking too late, or drive too close behind another car, then ABS will stop the wheels locking as you press on the brake pedal, but if you are too close when you first apply the brakes then you will still hit the car in front, as the simple laws of physics hold true. ABS will ensure the maximum possible braking efficiency has been applied, but if this is insufficient to stop the car then you will still arrive at the point if impact, though impact speed will be lower than arriving with all four wheels locked up and tyres screeching! Something few “tailgaters” seem to fail to appreciate.

Paul F