A second-in-command pilot left the cockpit and either jumped or fell out of an open rear cargo door of a CASA 212 aircraft flying over North Carolina. Digging into the details reveals he was self-medicating for anxiety and he may have been overcome by agitation during flight.

In this 2022 event, the main landing gear was damaged when the plane that was supporting sky diving tried to land. The crew diverted to a larger airport for a second landing attempt. During that diversion, the second in command was visibly upset. He left the cockpit and either intentionally or accidentally left the aircraft, falling to his death.

During the investigation, the NTSB found that this pilot was known to be a perfectionist who was hard on himself regarding his performance as a pilot.

The toxicological tests indicated that the pilot who died has mitragynine in his system, which is associated with the drug Kratom. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved Kratom for any use, and the Drug Enforcement Agency has identified Kratom as a drug of concern. Internal FAA policy considers its use disqualifying for pilots.
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The probable cause for this event does not say anything about the role of Kratom or mental health issues. Addressing mental health in aviation is part of a larger societal problem that should be addressed. Aviation professionals don’t have the incentive to get treatment for mental health issues because coming forward could end their career.

The preliminary accident report on the August 9, 2024 crash of a Voepass ATR72 near Sao Paolo, Brazil has just been issued. John Goglia, Todd Curtis and Greg Feith apply their expertise to examine the findings and critical aviation safety issues.

The report has detailed facts, including a summary of the flight, but several key pieces of information are missing. One big issue – no detailed transcript of what was said in the cockpit during the flight.

The report focuses on the aircraft’s deicing and anti-icing systems, including its apparent malfunctions. This system was first activated after the crew received an alert from the aircraft’s ice detection system, and was turned off less than a minute later.

The crew did not react appropriately after turning off the deicing system warning. Rather than leaving the altitude where the icing was occurring or disengaging the autopilot, the crew did neither.

Based on the portions of the crew’s conversation during the flight in the report, John concludes that the crew was not paying enough attention to flying the airplane. They did not address warnings from the aircraft.

There is a potential conflict of interest that may impede getting all the details of this accident. The Brazilian Air Force runs CENIPA, the aviation accident investigative authority, and the Brazilian air traffic control organization. Greg and John share their firsthand experiences with investigators dealing with outside influences using the example of the 1994 Roselawn, Indiana ATR72 accident.
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Key takeaway here: pilots, especially professional pilots, need to educate themselves about how icing affects their aircraft.

In March, a Mooney airplane door opened in flight, causing a loss of control and two fatalities. Todd and John examine this incident and three other Mooney events. Instead of a fault with Mooney aircraft, they find a pattern of very experienced pilots having issues and crashing when a passenger or baggage door opens in flight.

Doors open in flight often. The outcome depends on pilot action.

The pilot in the most recent crash had commercial and instrument ratings and nearly 800 hours of experience. Besides the door opening in flight, the NTSB found no other issues with the aircraft. The door alone should not have caused the plane crash.

In the earlier cases they discuss, all the pilots had at least a hundred hours of flight experience and there were no issues with the aircraft other than the doors opening in flight. One of those accidents had an instructor pilot on board, and between the student and instructor, they had over 9,000 hours of flight experience.
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Todd shares an early similar flight experience when an oil access door came open during the takeoff roll. He aborted the takeoff. His current process during his flight training focuses on flying the aircraft and assessing the situation before taking any other action.

Get the highlights of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture 2024 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin!
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Hundreds of thousands of attendees attended the multi-day event. All sectors of aviation were represented, from the military to general aviation, from exotic and experimental aircraft to flight demonstrations by military and civilian aircraft.

John Goglia attended once again this year and chatted with pilots, mechanics, elected officials, and aviation enthusiasts of every age. He met several people who regularly listen to the podcast, including some who offered ideas for future shows.

AirVenture is a unique airshow experience, but there are opportunities to visit other airshows around the country. Many local airports also offer opportunities for the general public, to see airplanes up close and speak to local pilots, flight schools, and others involved in aviation.