LCOL Holland was apparently an accident waiting to happen. I read and hear a lot of details on some post mortems -- flew with a couple of guys who knew him @ Fairchild AFB. Some said AFTER the accident that it was just a question of whether he would retire first or die in an aircraft first -- he had been playing the law of averages for many years. But then again, all reports on him PRIOR to the fatal accident offered nothing but superlatives about his airmanship and competency. And you had better believe that Wing politics and personalities were involved here.
He was also thought to be something of a COWBOY. That's great --- spirit of attack and all --- but: YOU HAVE GOT TO KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS!!! AND THOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT YOU'RE DRIVING. The B-52 has wing spoilers instead of ailerons --- and you know what happens when you throw up a wing with spoilers vice ailerons to initiate a turn. Just don't do it with too great an AOB and/or too close to the ground.
Perhaps it was the result of too many guys covering up for someone for too many years. It happens with flying, with wardrooms, with buddies, with comrades. It happens with drinking and personal problems on the ground --- it happens anytime "things" are allowed to develop that COULD ultimately affect judgement and therefore the safety of flight. The "Good 'ol Boys Network" was rumored to have been active in this instance ..... I've seen it in the military ... I've seen it in the airlines.
I'm not trying to moralize --- God knows I live in a glass house --- but this poor guy was a "known" quantity. Too bad others had to die to prove it.
I'm still here because I knew my limitations ...