John Lowery - A Pilots Accident Review (Kindle edition): An in-depth look at high-profile accidents that shaped aviation rules and procedures

He bears the seed of ruin in himself.

Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)

The intent of this book is to provide extra bits of knowledge to help the serious pilot in decision-making and thus enjoy a long flying career. Using the theory that we sometimes learn best by reviewing the mistakes of others, this book has been centered around aircraft accidents and why they occurred. In most cases the pilot or someone in his or her support teammechanic, weather briefer, avionics technician, or in commercial flying, the pilots management, even the manufacturermade the accident inevitable. The pilots personality too is frequently involved, with compulsion in decision-making a precipitating factor. To help understand the inherent problems, selected accidents have been analyzed in an effort to help prevent the predictable repetition that characterizes each years record on file at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The dictionary defines an accident as an unexpected happening. Yet, when all factors are considered in most aircraft accidents, they cannot be called unexpectedsimply because they were predictable. And, as you will note, many involve experienced pilots, which is by way of emphasizing that it can happen to you too.

Historically, about 80 percent of the annual general aviation accidents are attributed to pilot error. However, an in-depth analysis will usually show that a chain of errors, which included the pilot and one or more members of his or her extensive support team, culminated in an accident. It may have been the line-service person who refueled the piston-powered light twin with jet fuel instead of gasoline; or the flight instructor who signed off his student as fully trained before he/she was actually ready; or the FAA designated pilot examiner (DPE) who licensed a new pilot with a quick oral exam and short check flight that didnt adequately test the new pilots knowledge or flying skill. Or perhaps it was the mechanic who repaired the engine and failed to properly torque the bolts holding the engine halves together, and the maintenance inspector who failed to catch the error. As a result, the engine fails over hostile terrain.

Sometimes its the weather briefer who provided incomplete information, or the airport manager who failed to adequately maintain the runway surface and allowed an excessive rubber buildup from the landing traffic. As a result, it becomes slick during a rain, and when a pilot lands on the slick surface the airplane hydroplanes off the end of the runway resulting in major damage and serious injuries to passengers or crew.

Occasionally, its a misunderstood clearance from the control towerpossibly combined with the pilots inattentionthat culminates in catastrophe. This is especially true with runway incursions, wherein a clearance was misunderstood; or while taxing for takeoff, the pilot was chatting with a friend in the right seat.

Conflicting information too is sometimes a factor. For example, theres the pilot who crashes on final approach due to wing and tail ice that accumulated during cruise flight. Although his airplane was certified for flight in known icing conditions, he didnt realize that icing certification doesnt allow continuous flight within it.