Flight Safety Detectives

Latest Episodes:

Older Pilots at Risk? Plus UAP Reporting News - Episode 302 Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Breaking news! The FAA has made significant changes to the policy on reporting Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). UAP reports generated by air traffic controllers will use the acronym UAP instead of UFO, and controllers are required to provide specific information about the UAP in their reports.

Also in this episode, Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss two 2025 fatal accidents in which pilot medical conditions may have been an issue. Todd and John discuss how aging brings issues that are a challenge for older pilots.

The NTSB preliminary reports of the accidents under scrutiny do not include information on the age of the pilots. However, news media stories about the two crashes revealed that both pilots were in their 80s. Both pilots had BasicMed certifications.
A BasicMed certificate must be renewed every four years and can be approved by any licensed physician. Class III and other medical certificates must be approved by an FAA-certified Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
While neither of the two NTSB preliminary reports mention a medical condition playing a role in either accident, the BasicMed process may expose older pilots to risks. John suggests that BasicMed should have restrictions, including not allowing older pilots with a BasicMed certificate to carry passengers.

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Safety in Aircraft Design, Mental Health, Pilot Training - Episode 301 Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

This recording of a livestream event covers many aviation safety topics, from designing aircraft for safety to mental health support for industry professionals to passenger responsibilities. Hear Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis tackle viewer questions with insight and candor!

Among the topics covered:

Biennial flight reviews
Mental health in the cockpit and in the hangar
Testing for certificated pilots
A preflight checklist for passengers
Recent aviation safety presentations
Gulf of Mexico or Gulf of America?

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FAA & Aviation Maintenance Disconnects - Episode 300 Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

In this 300th episode of the Flight Safety Detectives podcast, Greg Feith, Todd Curtis, and John Goglia welcome special guest Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA). Maintenance issues get the spotlight, including how maintenance professionals and aircraft operators are challenged to understand how FAA maintenance regulations and standards apply to them.

MacLeod is a vocal advocate for individuals and companies on international aviation safety law, policy, and compliance issues. She and John have each worked to shape FAA regulations and policies, sometimes in conflict but always with the same objectives in mind.

This special episode touches on major changes that have shaped aviation in the 21st century. There are takeaways here for new as well as seasoned aviation professionals.

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LaGuardia Regional Airliners Collide on Taxiway - Episode 299 Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Greg Feith, Todd Curtis, and John Goglia provide critical insights into an October 1, 2025, ground collision at LaGuardia Airport between two taxiing regional airliners. The collision caused serious damage to both planes operated by Delta Connection.

The NTSB has not yet provided a preliminary report but the detectives gather details that offer initial insights. John has extensive experience as a mechanic at LaGuardia and shares his experience with congestion at this very busy airport. Hear why the pilots may have been distracted while taxiing.

A Flight Safety Detectives channel member shares lessons learned from an incident where the aircraft he was flying had issues during taxi. He stopped the aircraft and consulted with one of his flight school's mechanics, who assured him that the aircraft was airworthy. He decided to take off but had to land the aircraft just after takeoff due to airworthiness issues.

Todd, Greg, and John discuss details of the members story, emphasizing the importance of the pilot's decision-making and the role of the flight school's maintenance organization. Flight schools should use events like this as learning tools. Hear how regular safety standdowns enhance safety.

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Missing Logbooks, Missing Answers in Night Flight Tragedy - Episode 298 Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

A pilot who was attempting to satisfy FAA requirements for flying at night was killed in another preventable plane crash. The NTSB report of this 2018 high-energy impact into the ocean leaves several key questions unanswered.

The NTSB lists a probable cause that the Flight Safety Detectives just can’t support. They add this to a list of insufficient NTSB reports published in the last few years.

The pilot in command was flying at night with a passenger. He was required by the FAA to have performed three takeoffs and landings in the previous 90 days. According to the NTSB report, in the previous 90 days, the accident pilot had flown for three hours, including the two-hour accident flight.

The NTSB did not determine if the night currency requirements were met before the accident flight because the pilot's logbooks were unavailable for review. Public Docket documents that shed light on how the company behind the pilot's rented aircraft could have let this happen. The rental form that the pilot signed did not mention anything about requirements for night flights.

A special welcome to new sponsor – Prochock!

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Multiple Errors Lead to Helicopter Crash - Episode 297 Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

A mission to collect crocodile eggs in Australia went horribly wrong after a series of errors. A R44 helicopter ran out of fuel and the pilot had to release an external sling carrying the person collecting the eggs, killing that person and injuring the pilot.
The helicopter was one of a group of helicopters participating in a reality show. The accident pilot passed on the opportunity to refuel on the way to the egg-collecting area, adding to several actions that led to the fatal accident.

The accident report details events that began years before the accident when the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Australia's equivalent of the FAA, improperly approved the operator's plan for this flight operation. The investigation also revealed various practices that increased the risk.
John Goglia, Greg Feith and Todd Curtis dissect how CASA and the operator created high-risk flight operation that led to this fatal accident.

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Air India Crash & Washington National Crash Latest Details - Episode 296 Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

In this recording of the first Flight Safety Detectives live stream, viewer questions take John Goglia, Todd Curtis and Greg Feith on a deep dive onto aviation safety headlines. Audience questions help bring forward the latest developments in the investigations of the Air India crash, Washington National crash, reports of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and much more.

Why the public will never get full disclosure of the Air India crash
Potential changes coming from the DC crash investigation
Limitations and benefits of cameras in the cockpit and around aircraft
Unanswered questions in recent UAP investigations
Criminal prosecution in accident investigation in the US versus worldwide

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Deadly Consequences of Deferred Aircraft Maintenance - Episode 295 Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Deferring maintenance can be deadly. The July 2024 fatal crash of a twin-engine Beechcraft Duke, which killed the pilot and both passengers, provides the perfect case to make this point.

The aircraft had been idle for several months and had been exposed to weather including snow. The pilot was flying himself and his two passengers from upstate New York to Ohio. He did so despite airworthiness issues that included visible landing gear damage.

The left engine lost power and the pilot attempted to land at a nearby airport. The pilot lost control and crashed after attempting a single-engine go-around. Analysis reveals other issues with the aircraft, including clear signs of fuel system contamination and engine performance problems.

John and Todd explored several issues not in the NTSB final report but implied from the information collected. The pilot had ample information about the airworthiness of the aircraft before takeoff but was apparently determined to fly that day.

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Evolution Revo LSA Fatal Plane Crash - Episode 294 Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Spotlight on the September 2024 fatal crash involving an Evolution Revo light sport weight shift aircraft (LSA). A CFI and student pilot were killed when the aircraft's wings folded and it entered a steep dive.

Todd Curtis and John Goglia explore questions not answered in the recently released NTSB report. How or why did the CFI miss the checklist item to attach a key support cable? Had the aircraft recently been transported? Was work done on the aircraft?

The aircraft uses hang-glider-like wings for lift. It relies on moving a control bar to shift the center of gravity and change the shape of the wing and does not rely on traditional flight control surfaces. Despite his extensive experience with the aircraft, the CFI did not properly attach a key support cable called a haul back cable.

LSA rules will change in 2025 and 2026, including allowing pilots with an LSA certification to fly larger aircraft like the Cessna 172.

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CFIs Bad Choices Turn Deadly - Episode 293 Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Calling out inappropriate CFI behavior! John and Todd dig into the details of a fatal September 2023 accident involving a night training flight. The student's regular instructor was not available, and this was the first training with a different CFI.
The CFI’s actions were unprofessional and inappropriate. He uploaded posts to Snapchat before and during the flight.

In a post uploaded prior to the flight, the CFI complained about how long the student took to do a preflight inspection. John Goglia reminds that a preflight inspection should take as long as necessary!

The CFI was the pilot-in-command of the flight. He made critical decisions that put the aircraft in danger and likely led to the crash.

While returning from the night training flight, the CFI ignored storms in the area and pressed on instead of landing at an alternate airport. The plane encountered severe turbulence and broke up in flight, killing the CFI and the student.

In other news, the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 now under consideration in the U.S. would improve aviation safety. Interest in the issue was spurred in part by the latest season of HBO’s “The Rehearsal” in which John Goglia helped highlight pilot mental health issues. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the act, and it is now before the Senate.

This legislation would make it less likely that pilots and air traffic controllers who take medications for mental health issues would keep their FAA certifications. Contact your senator to support the legislation.

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