Take a deep dive into the NTSB preliminary report of what happened when a taxiing Delta A350 struck and substantially damaged an Endeavor CRJ in Atlanta. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis examine the contributing factors, including crew distractions, limited visibility of the wingtip from the cockpit, and the layout of the taxiways.

This event was one of three incidents involving Endeavor Airlines CRJs in a little over a year. Two Endeavor Airlines CRJ aircraft collided on the ground at LaGuardia Airport in New York in October. There was also a crash during landing of an Endeavor CRJ in Toronto in February.

Greg calls attention to issues that could lead to operational incidents at Endeavor, including operation discipline and crew qualifications. However, there does not seem to be a common issue in the three events.

Collision risk during taxiing is a concern for the maintenance community, some of whom taxi aircraft at airports. Taxiing aircraft is preferred over towing at some congested airports. John shares that during his career he did not receive any briefings or training in the hazardous areas of the airport for taxiing aircraft.
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Todd and Greg say that maintenance personnel would benefit from practicing taxi techniques in a simulator.
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The perception of aviation safety risk is much higher than the actual data. Safety data expert Mike Borfitz helps John Goglia and Todd Curtis look at how misleading data is used to support misleading theories about the Air India 787 and other high-profile aviation disasters.

John and Mike highlight issues with reporting and documents related to the Air India accident. Learn the inside story on why some official-looking reports are inaccurate.

Todd and Mike and both former Boeing engineers who used aviation data to analyze risk and support the manufacturing process. They discuss how Boeing and Airbus use data today to improve design and operations.

They also examine the roles that manufacturers and the FAA play in certifying airplanes. The FAA relies on manufacturers and airlines to determine if an aircraft meets certification and airworthiness requirements.
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Tune in for updates on the commercial space industry and the future of the advanced air mobility side of aviation.

A look at the facts provided in the NTSB preliminary accident report on the November 4, 2025, crash of a UPS MD-11F in Louisville, Kentucky. John Goglia, Todd Curtis and Greg Feith share their insider perspectives as they examine the details of this fatal plane crash.

Many online commentators have speculated on the cause of the crash and other details of the accident, only to be proven wrong by the facts provided by the NTSB.

The accident has similar circumstances to the 1979 crash of an American Airlines DC-10 in Chicago. What is very different is the prevalence of recoding devices as well as the tools available to citizen journalists and professional media alike. Major accidents have always attracted media attention, but John’s experiences lead him to conclude that the quality of the reporters from that era was better than reporters from today’s large media outlets.

Video evidence is now often immediately available after an event, which helps investigators in the early phases of an investigation. Greg shares the process he used to make requests for photos and videos during investigations while at the NTSB.

Greg and Todd review the preliminary report in detail. They point out that video evidence shows the aircraft began to have catastrophic problems at takeoff, limiting options available to the crew. They detail how the accident unfolded based on information in the preliminary report and witness video evidence.

The preliminary report includes a lot of information about the strut that attaches to the engine. Cracks in the engine mount are a focus of the continuing investigation.
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The FAA has issued two emergency Airworthiness Directives that grounded all DC-10s and MD-11s in the U.S. Greg ends the show discussing the various options the operators have for repairing, inspecting, replacing parts or, if the required changes are significant, replacing the aircraft.

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).
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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.

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?

​Welcome new YouTube channel members: Perry Daneshgari and James Seegar!

Want to experience Flight Safety Detectives live? Become a channel member today. Join our Membership program for exclusive perks like live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Want to support our mission to enhance aviation safety? Become a sponsor. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected].

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.
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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.

Dear Members of the First State Chapter PAMA,
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After 12 years of serving as President of our chapter, the time has come for me to step aside and begin a new chapter in my life.  It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my professional life to lead such a dedicated group of aviation maintenance professionals who share a passion for excellence, safety, and community.

Over the years, the Chapter has accomplished so much together — from growing our membership and supporting the next generation of technicians, to hosting events that have strengthened both our skills and our camaraderie. 

But, we are still looking for someone to step into the role of Chapter President. 

If we are unable to fill this position, unfortunately, the First State Chapter PAMA will cease to exist.If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering for this important role, please reach out as soon as possible. Your involvement is vital to keeping our chapter active and supporting our mission.

On a positive note, am pleased to announce that the Delaware Valley Business Aviation Association (DVBAA) will be taking over the Annual Maintenance Symposium this winter. I am confident they will continue to carry forward the mission of providing valuable technical training, fostering collaboration, and supporting aviation maintenance professionals across the region.

The new Symposium will be held on Feb 28, 2026 at Deerfield Country Club.  We have been working with the DVBAA to make this transition as seamless as possible so Technicians in the area will have access to Free IA approved Training. 

The DVBAA will be updating their website soon with Symposium updates and registration at:  dvbaa.wildapricot.orgThank you all for your friendship, support over the years.
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With gratitude and best wishes,
John Agnew
President
First State Chapter - PAMA
302-983-0042

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.
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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.

​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.
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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 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.
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John Goglia, Greg Feith and Todd Curtis dissect how CASA and the operator created high-risk flight operation that led to this fatal accident.