Winter weather and questionable piloting have led to another series of aviation accidents. Greg and John look at the initial information and stress the importance of not flying beyond your skills and knowledge.

One fatal crash took the life of their good friend Charlie Schneider, CEO of MYGOFLIGHT. They share the known details that led to the crash of his Cirrus SR22. They reflect on his dedication to general aviation and general aviation safety.

The NTSB has released the final report of the crash of a Beech B60 Duke. Greg finds that the NTSB investigation was thorough, and the report has good information. Among the findings – no preflight inspection and a homemade gust lock left in place.
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“Bad things happen when you take a sick airplane into the air,” says Greg. John and Greg offer flight safety advice based on years of investigating the aftermath of accidents.

This episode opens with a recap of the recent ceremony where John received the National Aeronautic Association Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award. The event recognized his many contributions to aviation.

John, Greg and Todd review four recent aircraft accidents – three general aviation and one commercial. They offer initial analysis and the safety questions that should be answered during the investigation process.

A Bonanza crash in California led to four fatalities. Weather appears to be a factor in this crash that happened just 16 seconds after takeoff. Local reports are that weather conditions changed rapidly in the area – could one more weather check before takeoff have led to a different outcome?

A twin engine Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed in Oregon. The recording of the interaction with air traffic control before takeoff indicates the pilot was confused. This fatal crash investigation will need to look at pilot health as well as mechanical issues.

In Nebraska, the pilot lost control and crashed a twin engine Cessna 310. This accident also raises questions about pilot proficiency and currency as well as aircraft mechanical issues.
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Finally, they discuss the recent miraculous emergency landing of a fully loaded DC3 in Alaska. The pilot reported the loss of an engine shortly after takeoff and was able to maneuver to another runway and accomplish a safe landing.

A number of accidents happened Thanksgiving weekend, a trend that needs to be changed. Greg and John offer several flight safety tips for general aviation pilots planning holiday travel.

Listen to make sure you’re planning for the safest trip possible. John and Greg cover the importance of preflight planning, factoring in weather en route, dealing with icing conditions and more.
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The Flight Safety detectives also share listener emails and tease plans for 2022. They invite more listener input to make the show a valuable resource for everyone interested in aviation safety.

Safety training for the aviation community isn’t effective and needs an overhaul. Greg and John drive home this point by talking about the high rate of fatal accidents in November. Particular focus is on the accident that killed Blue Origin crew member Glen de Vries.

“We’re not reaching pilots and the aviation community with effective safety training,” John says. Greg adds that people don’t read manuals or safety material available from the FAA and NTSB.

Recent accidents involve a range of general aviation planes. Most wreckage is removed and stored for later evaluation, adding concerns that volatile evidence is being lost.
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Recommendations to improve safety are slow coming in recent years. When safety findings are issued, the format isn’t effectively sharing the information.