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 found the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash was caused by a combination of flight crew failures, including unprofessionalism, fatigue, and incorrect control inputs, along with Colgan Air's inadequate procedures for airspeed control in icing conditions.
• The article suggests these crew deficiencies are representative of a broader issue with pilot quality in regional airlines, influenced by the compensation the system offers.
• It argues against legislating minimum flight hours for pilots, emphasizing that the quality and nature of training are more crucial for proficiency than just the quantity of hours.

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