Flight Safety Detectives

Latest Episodes:

Devastating Banner Tow Plane Crash – Episode 191 Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

A pilot doing his first banner tow with a Piper PA25 crashed and died. Todd and John examine this devastating banner tow plane crash. They urge pilots to educate themselves about all types of flight operations.

NTSB reports are a good resource, but more data is often available online. Images and videos taken by other pilots and the public and websites like FlightAware can help the effort to understand what is needed for aviation safety in all types of flight operations.

The 2019 plane crash in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the center of the episode happened to a new tow pilot who had less than an hour's worth of flight time towing a banner. Inexperience and a lack of training led to this aviation disaster.

Banner towing has long been an attractive job for pilots looking to build flight hours. Unfortunately, accidents are common in towing operations. Todd and John offer options for new pilots to increase their understanding of the risks that come with banner towing and other types of commercial flight operation.

Related documents are available at the Flight Safety Detectives website.

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Major League Pitcher Halladay's Flight Stunts Lead to Death – Episode 190 Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

A former major league pitcher who had a Hall of Fame career died when doing stunt-type maneuvers in his plane. Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss Roy "Doc" Halladay’s risk-taking behavior that led to the November 2017 crash of the Icon A5 light sport aircraft he was piloting.

The plane crash occurred when Halladay was executing aggressive maneuvers at low altitudes over the waters near Clearwater, Florida. The NTSB investigation showed that Halladay had drugs in his system that would have likely impaired his decision-making ability.

John sums up Halladay’s actions as “absolutely crazy.” Todd notes that the bad decision making started long before he got into the cockpit that day.

Pilots, mechanics, and others in the aviation community have a responsibility to act when others are making decisions or taking actions that put themselves and others at risk in the air. These actions may save lives and avoid aviation disasters.

Related documents are available at https://flightsafetydetectives.com/major-league-pitcher-halladays-flight-stunts-lead-to-death-episode-190

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Pilot Attempts to Crash Plane, Lockerbie Bomb and More Crimes in Flight – Episode 189 Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

The recent eventwhere an off-duty airline pilot who was flying in an airplane jump seat allegedly tried to shut off the engines leads to a discussion of crimes in the air. John and Todd talk about several examples of criminal aviation disasters.

In the October 2023 event, a Horizon Air Embraer E175 airliner carrying dozens of passengers from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco was endangered. An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot reported he had taken “magic mushrooms” 48 hours before the incident where he tried to disable the engines in flight.

Todd and John compare this event to other events where pilots deliberately crashed aircraft. They contrast the U.S. policy of publishing official reports of criminal aviation events with the policies of other countries. They also discuss how practices and policies related to jump seat use have changed over time.

Contributing to these disasters may be medical privacy laws. The pilot certification process now relies on self-reporting of medical issues. Since many conditions would disqualify an individual from flying, there is incentive to not report all issues. John argues that changes are needed that would both protect the flying public and the privacy and careers of pilots who may have medical issues.
Related Documents are available at the Flight Safety Detectives website.

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High Risk Choices Lead to Plane Crash that Kills 2 – Episode 188 Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

An experienced pilot and mechanic made risky decisions, causing a plane crash that killed himself and a passenger. Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the 2021 crash and the many decisions made that compromised aviation safety.

The pilot was flying a recently purchased Piper PA24 Comanche that had been grounded for the previous 15 years. The accident pilot was an experienced and certified FAA mechanic. He had extensive experience flying Piper aircraft, but no significant experience flying the model of the accident aircraft.

Todd and John question the decision-making process of the accident pilot. Although the engine was sputtering, he took off. Although he was an experienced mechanic, he apparently did not do a full inspection of the engine. He attempted the “impossible turn,” a u-turn back to the airport that almost always results in stalling the plane.

John and Todd review the information in the NTSB report of the accident. They highlight the aviation safety practices that could have avoided this crash.

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Getting Serious About UAP Sightings – Episode 187 Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Not too long ago, anyone who reported a UFO, or UAP as they are called today, was deemed crazy. The most likely follow up was a psychiatric exam. John Goglia and Todd Curtis report on the growing effort to systematically record and analyze these events.

A September 2023 NASA report from an independent study team recommended that NASA use the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to support U.S. government efforts to understand unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and the effect on aviation safety. John and Todd offer detail on why the ASRS is an ideal tool for the job.

“Something is going on,” John says. “It is time we get a handle on it.”

John and Todd also review previous Flight Safety Detectives episodes that discuss UAP events and the U.S. government's evolving efforts to understand UAPs.

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Too Many Plane Crashes Caused by Flight Instructor Error – Episode 186 Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Special guest former NTSB Board Member Richard Healing and Greg Feith and John Goglia cover the recent fatal crash involving Richard McSpadden. McSpadden was executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Institute and a true champion of aviation safety.

“Richard contributed a lot to aviation safety, especially on the general aviation side,” Feith shares.

The number of accidents involving flight instruction is sky high right now. Healy discusses his ongoing work in researching aviation safety issues involving training flights. Among the findings – an alarming number of accidents caused by flight instructor error.

The discussion focuses on issues of operational discipline. From their days at the NTSB to current investigations, John, Greg and Dick have all found that neglecting the rules is a leading cause of flight issues.

They make the case for some form of flight data recording in flight instruction aircraft. The investment could help instructors learn and provide better aviation safety data.

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UAPs Pose Flight Safety Threats – Episode 181 Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

People have seen unexplained objects in the skies for decades. The US Government and other entities are finally discussing these events publicly, an important development for aviation safety.

“These events have an impact on flight crews and systems and are important to look at,” says Todd Curtis.

Now falling under the classification, unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), these events have been cited by the US Government as impacting national security and public safety. Todd and John discuss how these events impact aviation safety.

The episode looks at the July 2023 hearing in the US House of Representatives that included testimony from three military veterans who either witnessed or investigated UAP events. John and Todd share their perspectives on the aviation safety aspect of UAP issues, including the difficulty of understanding what may be behind these phenomena when there are few trustworthy sources of information.

Related documents are available at flightsafetydetectives.com

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Medical Helicopter Crashes Show Aviation Safety Risks – Episode 185 Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

The sheer number of helicopter accidents in the last six months is raising safety alarms. Todd Curtis and John Goglia focus on the conditions that helicopter pilots, and specifically medical helicopter operations, experience.

John and Todd examine the relatively frequent accidents around the U.S. involving medical helicopters. The show starts with a deep analysis of events around the August 28 crash of a medical helicopter in Pompano Beach, Florida. A video of the crash was shared online shortly after the crash.

They compare the ongoing investigation of the Pompano Beach crash with another medical helicopter crash from 2017. Maintenance issues, flight conditions, and operating in areas with obstacles all play a role. In the case of ambulance operations, a sense or urgency also comes into play.

NTSB investigations and resulting reports often leave questions unanswered. Todd and John make the case that more thorough reports can help improve safety of helicopter operations.

Related documents are available at the Flight Safety Detectives website.

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Accident Kills Entire Reba McEntire Band – Episode 184 Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

Here’s a true aviation stinker ripped from the headlines! Todd and John discuss a recent event where a Delta A350 traveling from Atlanta to Barcelona had to return to Atlanta due to an uncontained diarrhea event involving a passenger.

On to more serious aviation safety topics, they discuss in detail the March 1991 crash that killed the backup band for country and western music legend Reba McEntire. The pilots were flying out of an unfamiliar airport at night over mountainous terrain when the aircraft hit a mountain. All on board were killed.

This accident is a great illustration of the importance of preflight planning and preparation. Todd shares the sequence of a recent flight where he altered course based on information he had about mountainous terrain ahead. John stresses the need for pilots to take time to make themselves aware of the flight path from begging to end so they can make smart decisions in flight.

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Gender Reveal Plane Crash Kills One, Bad Parts Back in Circulation – Episode 183 Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

A recent gender reveal party turned tragic when the Piper ag plane used crashed and killed the pilot. John, Greg and Todd observe that the plane appeared to be poorly maintained. They share insight into the reasons why these types of commercial planes need special maintenance attention.

The flight safety detectives focus on a recent report from the European aviation authority about bogus airplane parts. The report highlights efforts to track down suspected unapproved parts that could have been installed on CFM56 engines on popular airline models including the 737 and A320.

Greg shares the details of a 1985 helicopter crash that killed five people and was caused by the use of unapproved parts. John shares stories from his experience, including work on a FAA suspected unapproved parts working group.

They conclude that the issue of fraudulent and bogus parts will continue to crop up periodically, requiring ongoing training on proper documentation and paperwork related to parts. They note that the risk is particularly high in places where governmental authorities don’t have strong oversight programs.

This episode also includes appreciation for Jimmy Buffet, an avid general aviation pilot. Buffet survived two plane crashes and was an advocate for aviation issues.

Related documents are available at the Flight Safety Detectives website.

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