This crash has some very funny characteristics to it. Namely:

Pristine vertical stabilizer (look at the picture for yourself).

Rudder detached from vertical stabilizer.

Both engines flew off their mounts.

NO significant weather at takeoff.

Precceding takeoff, even though it was a 747, was seven (7) miles ahead; normal spacing is four/five miles. Wake turbulence?

How many other crashes do you know about where the vertical stabilizer came off? Only one I can think of is the JAL 747 and there the aft bulkhead blew out taking the stabilizer with it. But, the pilot flew that plane for more than thirty (30) mins.

No folks - seems to me like there is just too many solid pieces of metal (grade-8 bolts) that did NOT hold together, ALL AT THE SAME TIME??? Amazing coincidence??

Had to be the stabilizer that went first. But why could FO not control direction and attitude with engines and elevators??

Elevators control attitude - anyone seen any elevator wreckage?

People from the other side of the looking glass always say they don't believe in amazing coincidences.

dAAvid -