NTSB Aircraft Mishap Report – Pilot (John Edwards) Error, Aircraft Departed Controlled Flight and Impacted Terrain

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott

It’s not really a news worthy event when a high profile politician is cornered for excessive liberties, nor is it unusual for such a wounded soul to pull out the deception tool for damage control. Ex Presidential hopeful and one time Senator from the Carolinas is human, and humans are not incapable of fault. What is news worthy is that Edwards, the hardened supporter of liberal causes, has seemed to crack under the pressures of his actions. Edwards was a favored child of the left and was trusted to assume the highest office of the land, and cracking under pressure is not allowed. Cracking is unacceptable.

President Clinton successfully navigated hostile waters during the Monica months by looking directly into cameras and challenging the world to a fist fight. You may not respect the man and his moral fiber, but you have to respect his ability to bluff at a high stakes poker table. Clinton showed strength. Not moral strength, but strength nonetheless. Edwards cracked.

Presidents are not allowed to crack. They become tarnished and marred, but they don’t break. Bush the 2nd is worn and battle torn and continues to stand tall. Presidents take risks and make decisions that are never accepted by all, and after years of decision making odds are that they’ll create ire with the broad population over time. Edwards’ behavior uncovers the nasty truth that he didn’t have “the right stuff” after all. That’s the rub – those who supported him are confronted with the reality that “they” were wrong all along. His followers were bamboozled, and that realization hurts. Ouch! They got a swift boat kick to the gut kind of an ouch.

John Edwards was a pretty good pilot, trained by the best and was given the keys to the finest aircraft ever built. He fearlessly taunted thunderstorms with skill and grace for years. He has landed limping aircraft on rough runways and always walked away sans a scratch – until today. Today, John Edwards lost control and the aircraft departed controlled flight and impacted the terrain. Cause of accident: Pilot Error.