Aviation Safety

From almost Day One of our pilot training, we’re told to stay out of and 20 miles from a thunderstorm. We’re also told not to fly into instrument conditions without an appropriate rating and clearance. Yet, the accident record shows many pilots regularly ignore those admonitions. The accident record, however, doesn’t reflect the number of pilots who bend or break them and live to do it again. We’d guess that number is substantial.

As expected, France’s counterpart to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA), on July 5 released its long-awaited final report into the loss of Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330 that disappeared over the equitorial Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009. Also as expected, the BEA found a complicated series of events led to the crash, almost all of them associated with crew training and expectations.

At about 1915 Alaska time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff on a Part 135 on-demand sightseeing flight. The commercial pilot and six passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator and empennage. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1015 Eastern time following loss of engine power and collision with terrain. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

At 1450 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its nose landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. A sustained ground fire ensued after the airplane came to rest on the runway. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 1815 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff. The private pilot and flight instructor sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 1400 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain during initial climb after takeoff from a road. Witnesses stated the engine sputtered and the airplane then descended in a nose-down attitude. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured.

The airplane began to porpoise during landing after it touched down long and fast at 1217 Eastern time. The pilot aborted the landing, and the airplane then struck a tree during climbout. The private pilot returned to the airport and landed without further incident. There were no injuries among the pilot and the three passengers.

At about 955 Eastern time, the helicopter experienced an in-flight bird strike, main rotor vibration and a hard landing. The private-rated pilot, commercial-rated copilot, and three passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed.

At approximately 1300 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence during takeoff. The airline transport rated pilot and the airline transport-rated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.