NTSB News Talk – Aviation Accidents, Safety Investigations & Pilot Lessons

• Reagan National Midair NTSB Hearing Day 1: Army Black Hawk & Regional Jet Crash Testimony

  Max Trescott takes listeners deep inside Day 1 of the NTSB’s investigative hearing into the tragic midair collision near Washington’s Reagan National Airport between a PSA Airlines CRJ-700 and a U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter. The accident claimed the lives of 67 people, including the crew of both aircraft, and has become one of the most scrutinized airspace safety failures in recent history. In this episode of NTSB News Talk, Max distills over ten hours of testimony into 18 critical clips, delivering more than an hour of compelling audio that reveals surprising findings, heated exchanges, and systemic safety issues.The day opened with an animated reconstruction of the collision showing the helicopter at 280 feet MSL—80 feet above the 200-foot altitude depicted for that segment of the published helicopter route—and the CRJ-700 at 290 feet on short final to DCA’s Runway 33. Panel 1, “Overview of Accident Helicopter’s Air Data Systems and Altimeters,” uncovered a significant problem with UH-60L altimeter accuracy. Test flights conducted after the accident revealed rotor downwash caused barometric altimeters to read 80–130 feet lower than true altitude at hover and cruise. Compounding the issue, transponder encoders legally transmit in 100-foot increments and can be off by up to 90 feet while still being “in spec.” The testimony underscored how cumulative tolerances could create a 100-foot discrepancy between left and right seat altimeters, even with properly maintained systems.The hearing also exposed a fundamental difference in altitude standards between Army and civilian pilots. Army witnesses stated their standard is to maintain altitude within ±100 feet, meaning 300 feet would still be considered acceptable when targeting 200 feet MSL. Civilian operators, including medevac pilots accustomed to the DCA corridor, testified that in this airspace 200 feet is treated as a hard ceiling, not a target with a tolerance band. This cultural gap framed much of the day’s discussion.Panel 2, “Overview of the DCA Class B Airspace and Helicopter Routes,” shifted focus to the unique and congested structure of Washington’s helicopter corridors. FAA representatives confirmed a startling fact: the altitudes on the published helicopter charts are “recommended” for VFR operations and are not regulatory unless specifically assigned by ATC. Likewise, drifting off the depicted route or exceeding the published altitude is not a violation unless ATC imposes a hard restriction. Yet multiple witnesses testified that in practice, both Army and civilian pilots, as well as controllers, treat the published routes and altitudes as mandatory. The disconnect between policy and operational understanding drew pointed questioning from the Board.A recurring theme was the vulnerability of the route structure due to lack of consistent oversight. FAA orders require an annual review of the Baltimore-Washington helicopter route chart, but testimony revealed that DCA Tower has cycled through ten air traffic managers since 2013, with five in the last five years, making continuity of safety evaluations nearly impossible. A working group identified Route 4—the exact route used by the Black Hawk—as hazardous and attempted to mitigate risk by designating charted hotspots. FAA’s Aeronautical Information Services rejected the request on the grounds that “hotspot” symbology is limited to surface charts. NTSB members expressed frustration that bureaucratic charting standards overrode a direct safety recommendation from front-line controllers in the nation’s most complex helicopter environment.One surprising revelation involved ADS-B compliance. The Army testified that less than 20% of its flights in the region flew with ADS-B Out enabled. Even worse, the investigation discovered that seven of eight Lima-model Black Hawks at

  --------  

  1:11:55

  --------

  1:11:55
• NTSB: Delta B-52 Close Call and Runway Incursion at Mexico City

  Max and Rob bring listeners a packed episode of aviation safety lessons anchored by the NTSB. They begin with the Board’s announcement of a three-day investigative hearing into the Reagan National midair between a regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter. Rob dives into a dramatic close call in North Dakota, where a Delta Regional Jet on final narrowly avoided a B-52 bomber crossing its flight path near Minot. The incident exposes communication gaps, contract tower limitations, and the critical need for radar and coordination between military and civilian traffic.In Mexico City, a Delta A320 rejected a high-speed takeoff to avoid an AeroMexico E-190 landing over the top of it on the same runway. The event raises red flags about ATC language use, as Spanish transmissions prevented the Delta crew from maintaining situational awareness. Max explores the Hollister RV-8/Cirrus collision, highlighting how a relocated runway threshold and lack of radio calls can set the stage for disaster. A video of the midair was posted on Facebook. AOPA's Sweepstakes Aviat A-1C-200 Husky was damaged in a landing incident, in which the pilot's left foot was misplaced an not on the rudder pedal.A Murphy Aircraft Manufacturing Limited Moose airplane, N250MK, was destroyed when it was involved in a takeoff accident near Montrose, CO. According to the Preliminary NTSB report, two pilots on board were killed. The Falcon 10 runway overrun in Panama City offers a textbook example of checklist discipline when thrust reversers failed due to switches left in the wrong position, turning deceleration into forward thrust. The AOPA Sweepstakes Husky mishap adds another cautionary tale about cockpit discipline and distractions.The episode’s most personal moment comes when Rob shares his experience flying rusty in a G1000-equipped Cessna 182. Fatigue, cockpit visibility issues, haze, and a failed trim system combined to erode his performance and highlight how ego can mask risk. Max underscores the I’M SAFE checklist—illness, medications, stress, alcohol, fatigue, emotion—and how self-awareness can prevent tragedies. Together, they emphasize that open discussion and honest reflection are vital to improving safety and preventing accidents.Check out our other Aviation News Talk Network podcasts:UAV News Talk Podcast Rotary Wing Show PodcastAviation News Talk

  --------  

  58:14

  --------

  58:14
• Air India 787 Crash, 737 MAX Engine Smoke, and Recent NTSB Reports

  Max Trescott and Rob Mark return for Episode 4 of NTSB News Talk with critical analysis and commentary on recent aviation accidents and safety investigations. The show kicks off with an update on the fatal Air India Flight 171 crash involving a Boeing 787, which resulted in 241 onboard deaths and 19 fatalities on the ground. A single survivor remains, and while early speculation surrounds the Ram Air Turbine deployment and potential engine failure, official conclusions await India's preliminary report, expected in three months.The discussion then shifts to the LEAP-1B engine bird strike incidents involving Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX jets. Both flights suffered bird ingestion leading to severe cockpit smoke—traced to a design issue where the Load Reduction Device (LRD) triggered an oil leak into the bleed air system. Though the FAA downplayed the threat, the NTSB issued a safety bulletin highlighting the potential risk, drawing parallels to the MCAS issue that plagued earlier MAX crashes.Next, Max recaps the San Diego Citation S550 crash, which occurred during an LNAV approach at night. The pilot descended well below minimums—possibly misreading a military-only value of 500 feet on the approach chart. With no weather reporting available at Montgomery Field and several human factors at play, fatigue and poor decision-making appear to have contributed to the crash.In Broomfield, Colorado, a Beechcraft Travel Air crashed after the pilot reported a door pop shortly after takeoff. The pilot flew an abnormally low pattern and lost control during the downwind leg, possibly due to a stall induced by slowed airspeed. Max and Rob stress that open doors are not emergencies and urge pilots to fly a normal pattern and maintain aircraft control.Rob covers a fatal floatplane crash near Beaver Island, Michigan, where a homebuilt Avid Magnum impacted water during a low sightseeing pass. Though conditions were reported clear, satellite imagery later revealed smoke and haze that likely obscured the horizon. The glassy water conditions and lack of instrumentation may have contributed to the pilot's inability to perceive altitude, a classic seaplane hazard.The show also reviews the in-flight breakup of a Cessna 182 in Reliance, Tennessee, caused by continued flight into a thunderstorm and turbulence beyond the aircraft’s maneuvering speed. Shockingly, the aircraft’s BRS parachute was deployed but not connected properly to the structure, rendering it useless.Finally, the episode covers a Cessna 182RG crash in North Carolina. Witnesses reported an excessively nose-high attitude during a soft field takeoff attempt. The airplane stalled and crashed after barely lifting off. Investigators determined that the pilot likely failed to properly set the elevator trim before...

  --------  

  37:11

  --------

  37:11
• Air India crash, Miracle in Toronto, N414BA San Diego crash and more accidents

  In this densely packed episode of NTSB News Talk, Max Trescott and Rob Mark discuss several major aviation accidents—ranging from high-profile international crashes to domestic general aviation incidents—emphasizing a recurring theme: loss of control due to distraction, poor decision-making, or misinterpretation of situational cues.The show opens with breaking news: a catastrophic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff, killing 240 of the 241 people on board. Notably, this is the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner since its certification. Speculation online points to configuration errors—photos show the gear was down and the flaps were up only seconds after liftoff. The aircraft hit a building a mile from the runway, raising concerns about takeoff mismanagement and checklist failures.Max and Rob pivot to two significant upcoming NTSB hearings: the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 door plug blowout and the tragic midair collision between an American regional jet and an Army Blackhawk helicopter near Washington National Airport. Both hearings promise new details and will be livestreamed.Next, they cover a dramatic crash involving a twin-engine Cessna 414 that departed San Diego’s busy Lindbergh Field and spiraled into the ocean. The ADS-B data showed erratic climbs, rapid descents (up to 10,000 feet per minute), and multiple full-circle turns. The pilot seemed confused about altitude assignments and configuration changes. Rob and Max speculate possible vacuum failure, misinterpretation of ATC instructions (e.g., mishearing “13,000” as “1,300”), or general lack of proficiency. They reference the previous day’s flight, captured by VASAviation, which revealed a series of small pilot errors including wrong altitudes, incorrect intercepts, and a runway incursion during taxi—painting a broader picture of degraded situational awareness.Attention turns to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s preliminary report on the Endeavor Air CRJ-900 accident in Toronto. The aircraft landed in gusty crosswinds and crashed when the right main gear collapsed, resulting in a fiery rollover. Max details how the pilot flying likely reduced power too early in response to being five knots fast. That created a dangerous sink rate—exceeding 1,100 feet per minute just seconds before touchdown. Rob emphasizes how turbine aircraft handle differently from piston aircraft and questions whether the pilot’s limited experience (just over 1,400 hours) played a role. Remarkably, all passengers survived, a testament to fast-responding fire crews and luck.The duo then examines a runway incursion at Chicago Midway, where a Flexjet Challenger taxied across an active runway just as a Southwest 737 was on short final. Airport surveillance video captured the close call. Fortunately, the Southwest crew initiated a go-around. Rob, based in Chicago, breaks down the confusing taxi route and notes that pilots had already read back one set of incorrect instructions earlier. Max stresses how helpful moving maps are for taxi navigation—especially at night or in unfamiliar airports.Lastly, the hosts dissect a

  --------  

  39:10

  --------

  39:10
• Fly the Plane: Distractions, Doors, and Darkness

  In this episode of NTSB News Talk, hosts Max Trescott and Rob Mark explore a series of recent general aviation accidents that underscore persistent issues around loss of control, distraction, weather misjudgment, and pilot training. The discussion is framed around several preliminary NTSB reports, each presenting scenarios where pilots encountered challenging situations and, in many cases, failed to maintain control of their aircraft.They begin with the crash of a Rockwell Commander 114A in Hankamer, Texas. The pilot had taken his grandson on a pleasure flight from Baytown. ADS-B data showed casual maneuvering followed by a rapid, unexplained descent from 4,200 feet, with rates as high as 14,000 feet per minute and speeds over 200 knots. While weather data is incomplete, Max and Rob suspect the pilot may have been attempting to descend through a break in the clouds—leading to a spatial disorientation or loss of control scenario.The conversation then moves to a fatal Piper Lance crash in Florida, caused by an unsecured nose baggage door. Surveillance video shows the door flapping open just after takeoff, and investigators found spilled contents—aviation oil and dog food—on the runway. Just 10 seconds later, the aircraft impacted the ground. Rob and Max explain that while such a distraction can be startling, it shouldn’t lead to a crash. Pilots need to remain calm and continue flying, especially during the critical initial climb phase.A Saratoga crash, also in Florida, occurred during a night takeoff from Venice. Four people were killed. Max identifies the likely culprit: somatogravic illusion, in which acceleration during takeoff is misinterpreted by the brain as a climb. If no visual references are available—such as over water or on a moonless night—pilots may mistakenly push the nose down, leading to fatal descent. Rob emphasizes that night VFR can be as risky as IFR and urges pilots to brief night flights as if they're instrument flights. Max adds that despite being legal, flying in dark night conditions without an instrument rating is “crazy.”Next is a Cessna 180 crash in Illinois. The aircraft departed during the day but returned amid mist and rain. The pilot, who lacked an instrument rating, hit wires and crashed, killing four. This highlights the risk of flying VFR into IMC and the human tendency to assume return conditions will mirror those from the outbound flight—a dangerous assumption in a dynamic weather environment.The final accident involves a Cessna 177RG Cardinal in California. The pilot, who was in the traffic pattern for Grass Valley Airport, reported engine failure just before turning base. The aircraft crashed inverted near a road, just short of the runway. Rob stresses this was a basic emergency pilots are trained for—power-off landings—and wonders if other factors, such as distraction from a passenger, played a role. Max notes that today's busy traffic patterns make it difficult to practice power-off landings, though they remain a valuable skill.The conversation broadens into general safety themes. Max recalls how his early flight training focused on always landing power-off, and he encourages pilots to train under varied conditions to remain sharp. Rob warns that many pilots shy away from training maneuvers for fear of damaging their engines, but believes this hesitancy erodes skills.They also touch on

  --------  

  31:09

  --------

  31:09

Plus de podcasts Loisirs

Podcasts tendance de Loisirs

À propos de NTSB News Talk – Aviation Accidents, Safety Investigations & Pilot Lessons

NTSB News Talk – Aviation Accidents, Safety Investigations & Pilot Lessons: Podcasts du groupe