Blame The Pilots

The NTSB recently issued its finding of probable cause in the February 12, 2009, crash of a Colgan Air Inc., Bombardier Dash 8-Q400, operating as Continental Connection Flight 3407 while on approach to the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport in Buffalo, New York. All 49 aboard, plus one person on the ground, died when the regional turboprop entered a stall and the flight crew failed to recover. To a total lack of surprise among those following the aftermath of this tragedy, the Board found the accidents probable cause to include a litany of failures in the cockpit and Colgan Airs procedures involving airspeed control in icing conditions. The NTSBs report included 46 conclusions and resulted in 24 recommendations to the FAA.

Key Takeaways:

• The NTSB concluded the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash was caused by severe pilot errors, including an unprofessional cockpit, poor airspeed control in icing, and incorrect stall recovery, exacerbated by Colgan Air's procedures.
• The article suggests these pilot deficiencies are indicative of broader quality issues within regional airlines, asserting that the U.S. airline system ultimately receives the pilot quality it is willing to pay for.
• It critiques congressional proposals to mandate minimum pilot flight hours, arguing that the quality and nature of training are far more crucial for pilot proficiency and safety than merely increasing flight hour requirements.

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