When I was an Airline Pilot, we were routinely trained for runaway stabilizer scenarios during simulator periods. Opposite stick pressure followed by using the stab trim cutout switches to kill power to the stab trim motors. The procedure was a no brainer. Why didn't this ever occur to the crews on these flights?
We had to shut down an engine on a 777 several years ago over the North Pacific, on the way back to Houston from Tokyo. The closest alternate was Cold Bay, Alaska so that's where we landed. Anchorage was a lot further and there was nothing in between. One engine over water at night is a lousy combination.
I knew a guy at New York Air, back in 1985, who was senior enough to make Captain at 22, but had to wait until his 23rd bithday to get his ATP rating. He was then upgraded and was a 737-300 captain at 23. As far as I know, he's still flying for Continental(United).
