Dissecting the fatal crash of a Cirrus SR20 near Hobby Airport in Texas. This accident highlights the value of careful preflight planning.

“Solid preplanning leaves nothing to chance, and that would have made a difference here,” says John Goglia.

While the pilot had experience with the aircraft, her experience landing at a high traffic airports is less clear. John and Greg wonder if another pilot in the cockpit or a plan to land at a less constrained airport could have made a difference.

Other factors covered include medication found in the pilot toxicology report, confusing instructions provided by air traffic controllers and excessive maneuvering required over a 20-minute period. Get an analysis that gives insight beyond the NTSB findings summarized at the Kathryn’s Report website.
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Also hear preliminary details of recent high-profile helicopter crashes in Florida and California.

Greg and John are all over the news reports of the proposed merger of Frontier and Spirit airlines. Both companies have low customer satisfaction ratings. Will the combination create a larger poor performing airline or lead to safety improvements?

The conversation covers the back stories of several past commercial airline mergers. They share inside knowledge of issues and crashes that happened during and soon after mergers. As employees adjust to new procedures and operations, attention can be taken away from safety.
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The episode also covers a disturbing trend in general aviation. Pilots without the proper skills, abilities and knowledge seem to be counting on technology and automation to keep them safe. The result is an alarming number of accidents.

The event is FREE and will take place on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club in Newark, Delaware.

Speakers include PAMA's own, The Honorable John Goglia, and representatives from Concord Battery, Honeywell, Good Year, Dassault, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The conference is approved for 8 hours of IA renewal credit. Door prizes, breakfast, lunch, and post-event cocktails will also be provided.

Register to attend at firststatepama.com/.

Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information contact First State President John Agnew at [email protected] or 302-983-0042.

The NTSB final report related to a Cessna 172 crash has Greg, John and Todd concluding that pilots and mechanics are being led to focus on the wrong safety problems. Chasing the wrong issues is stalling advances in aviation safety.

This accident is cited as the basis for a NTSB safety recommendation to add active carbon monoxide detectors to all general aviation aircraft. However, the accident details tell a completely different safety story.
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“Once again, the NTSB has stopped their investigation at the hangar door,” says John. “They are not doing the in-depth analysis of maintenance issues that will help GA pilots and mechanics to do better.”
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The flight safety detectives explore the real issues behind the accident. The tie the facts and details to do the analysis lacking in the NTSB investigation and report. Their probable cause: systemic noncompliance.

United Airlines just launched its own flight school. Does United Aviate Academy offer a better option for would-be pilots than college aviation programs?

Greg, John and Todd share first impressions. The program appears to be more expensive than other ways of earning pilot credentials and stops short of ATP certification.

They talk about why the program may be better or worse than college programs and private flight schools.

The new road rage? The Flight Safety Detectives also talk about the continued incidents of cabin disruptions caused by passengers who refuse to comply with federal mask mandates. Flights are being turned back, risking the safety of crew and passengers.
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From the WTF files, Greg shares a recent incident where a pilot in NC swerved to miss a coyote, left the runway and hit a sign. What would you do – hit the sign or take out the coyote?