Post-Mortem: Deployment #48 (Revised)

Date

Tuesday, approximately 2:15 PM MST

Summary

Operator achieved target velocity of 340 mph on Route 66 straightaway. Target was spotted 200 yards ahead, stationary, consuming bird seed. Operator closed distance in 2.1 seconds. Target moved 3 feet to the left. Operator continued into canyon at full speed.

Timeline

• 2:15:00 - Ignition successful
• 2:15:03 - Maximum velocity reached
• 2:15:05 - Target acquired visually
• 2:15:07 - Target displacement (3 ft lateral)
• 2:15:07.5 - Road ended
• 2:15:08 - Gravitational awareness achieved
• 2:15:12 - Ground contact (canyon floor, 400 ft below)

Contributing Factors

Lack of braking mechanism remains the primary contributing factor. Additionally, the operator reports that the target "looked like it was going to stay still this time." The target has never stayed still.

Corrective Measures

• Order replacement skates
• File canyon floor impact report
• Evaluate alternative approaches (see budget summary for cost comparison)
• Schedule operator training on gravitational physics
• Install warning signs at cliff edges (rejected: target removes signs)