From the scene of the accident to the rendering of the probable cause, the National Transportation Safety Board follows an established process to determine why an aircraft crash happened. For the NTSB investigators that form a crash “Go Team” — experts chosen from a broad range of NTSB aviation specialties — that often means unraveling the mysteries behind a series of fatal mistakes that led to an accident. That was certainly the case for investigators when the call came in on the evening of May 31, 2014, after a Gulfstream GIV crashed in Bedford, Massachusetts. This is the inside story of the landmark crash investigation that followed.
What Happens After a Crash?
Key Takeaways:
- The article details the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation into the 2014 Gulfstream GIV crash in Bedford, Massachusetts, which tragically killed all seven occupants after a rejected takeoff.
- The probable cause was determined to be a combination of severe pilot errors, including failing to perform a flight-control check, attempting takeoff with the gust-lock engaged, and habitual non-compliance with checklists.
- A significant contributing factor was the discovery that the Gulfstream's gust-lock system did not meet FAA certification requirements to prevent takeoff with the lock engaged, a deficiency the FAA failed to detect.
- The NTSB issued safety recommendations to prevent similar future accidents, focusing on retrofitting the gust-lock system, improving airport infrastructure, and enforcing pilot adherence to checklists.
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