Oh, how very sad that this happened. The power outage was a surprise, but the loss of three very talented and intelligent people cannot be replaced.

Thank you PA Online for reporting this so timely.

RIP Brian dam dude just hada baby he was a good dude.
Dam thats hard.

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

I am glad to see that Narnia has conducted an investigation and uncovered all the facts regarding the crash.
I guess the Feds are wasting their time:
Web Link

It looks like Narnia has worked quickly--he/she has determined that there were no mechanical problems with the plane, what exactly the weather was at time of takeoff. She has also interviewed the people who's home was destroyed and figured out how much they have lost.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

So it looks like the conclusion is that it was all the pilot's fault.
End of story

Best post I have seen you make TRS, thank you for pointing out that ignorance.

Based on my 26 hours logged, I know that takeoff and climbout are the same with or without outside visibility. A mechanical failure or pilot incapacity would have the same consequences VFR or IR. Twin rated pilots are routinely tested for reaction to engine failure in all attitudes. In other words, a takeoff under the conditions was routine, no riskier than any other maneuver at that altitude.

The SJMerc says: "When the Cessna took off, 16 Southwest Airlines flights out of Mineta San Jose International Airport already had been canceled because of the fog." The same story says that people in the neighborhood had very poor visibility even at ground level.

If you have information that Mr Bourn was pressured by Tesla or his fellow employees to fly out into a thick fog, you should present it to the authorities. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

I think we need to wait until theinvestigation is completed and a report is issued before we go around making claims and assigning blame.

I knew Doug Bourn. He hired me in 1984 into Telebit where he was a hardware engineering manager. I worked for him or with him for a number of years before he left the company.

More recently, a couple years back, my daughter and I bumped into him in the airport shop, and we chatted for a while catching up. That was the last time I saw him.

If he was to offer me another job today working with him I would be giving my notice tomorrow.

What I knew of him was that he was very bright, very careful, not given to rash actions. He was a good guy, and he would be one of the few I would feel comforable climbing into a plane with.

Knowing that he was the one at the controls makes me feel even more that this was probably a mechanical failure in the plane or a sudden health issue with him, not an irresponsible or careless action on his part, that just was no the way he was.

I am very saddened to learn that a friend of mine has passed like this.

Every expert I’ve spoken with says that it is likely that the fog had very little to do with what happened. And further, that the fog that morning would not have been a significant factor in deciding whether or not to fly, especially in that particular plane with such an experienced pilot.

I don’t know much about flights out of SJC being canceled, but I imagine that’s has more to do with multiple jumbo jets flying in and out on a tight schedule.

KGO Radio 4PM Newscast featured EPA's "shotspotter" technology recording of terrorized screams of those on the ground who - thankfully - barely escaped tragedy; no indication of engine malfunction according to commentators. So what happened? All we know is it was extraordinarily foggy and the pilot went to the left over EPA instead of to the right over the bay. I don't call this episode a reassuring story about PA airport operations.

Fog (and smoke) disorients people. Even when instrument flying.

In the my previous post, removed by the PAO staff, I lamented those whose lives where thrown upside down through no fault of their own. Apparently, that's now forbidden.
I know they are only east palo altans...but...

let's all come back to the forum when the FAA issues its conclusions.
Most crashes are caused by human error and none of us is immune to that. Also, in most crashes a series of combined or sequential events, not just one, contribute to the outcome. In many instances weather is a contributory fact.
I don't know what caused this crash, but I know visibility was poor (and that's statistically a contributory cause).

In an IFR takeoff, the pilots' head is down and locked on the gauges. That is why they call it Instrument flying.

It was really, really foggy that day I wouldn't want to fly in that.
Brian lived in EPA not to far from the crash. So I doubt any shady doings and they clipped the tower on take off. Thank god nobody on the ground got hurt, I still cant digest this, read that a lot of planes have crashed in the marsh but never EPA. Damn I drive down that street everyday. Almost enrolled my son in the charter school right there, my folks stay nearby. Wow. Again glad everyone on the ground was ok. Glad I left on time for work that day I drive pass there every day. You never think that there is a airport back there. Dam Wow.

My wife and I had a chance to fly with Doug a few years ago. He would often come to peets coffee when he was with IDEO and offered to take us up. It was one of the fondest memories I will ever have. we flew to a few places then up the coast to have a late lunch in Halfmoon Bay. His kindness and humbleness will never be forgotten.

matt and christa

Just because the departure was IFR does not mean weather could not have contributed to the crash. one possible scenario... engine out shortly after takeoff and he was descending to gain a bit of airspeed prior to adding power on the remaining engine and returning to PAO... in the fog, he would have had no way of seeing the power lines even if he knew exactly how close to the ground he was from his altimeter. Also, there is no way he clipped the tower on takeoff due to simple pilot error... the Dumbarton Left departure which he was most likely on turns right shortly after takeoff before continuing over the marshes to the bridge... something most decidedly went wrong right after wheels up that caused the turn left... leave it up to the NTSB to determine what.

Listen to the crash audio. Both engines were running at TO power.

Sounds like two engines to me as well, but i'm certainly no expert in aircraft identification by sound (much less how many engines are operating, and at what power level!)

One thing is certain... something went terribly wrong shortly after liftoff, as the tower they hit is only about 2000ft from the end of the runway... the debris was scattered nearly that distance. The tower was left of runway heading, the Dumbarton Left departure has an initial right turn. The towers are maybe 50ft tall. Going the wrong direction and not gaining altitude. at least one critical system was non-functioning (possibly the pilot).

whatever happened, happened very quickly... assuming a mid field rotation, that flight lasted about 20 seconds, and the aircraft never got above a few hundred feet. no room for error when something goes wrong that close to the ground.