Although loss of control accidents have declined on the commercial side of U.S. air transportation, the data shouldn’t lull pilots of any size aircraft into believing the top cause of fatal accidents around the world has been reined in, a point demonstrated when the pilots of a chartered Hawker 700 lost control of their aircraft on approach to Akron, Ohio, last year. The subsequent crash killed all nine people on board.
Loss of Control Is Still a Very Real Issue
Key Takeaways:
- Loss of control remains a top cause of fatal accidents globally, exemplified by a recent fatal Hawker 700 crash and a near-loss of control incident on a Boeing 757 that highlighted dangers related to auto-flight systems.
- During the 757 go-around, the First Officer engaged the "altitude capture" function without informing the Captain, which, combined with premature flap/gear retraction and high airspeed, caused an extreme nose-up pitch and a dangerous drop in airspeed.
- The investigation found the crew experienced "degraded situational awareness" and were "startled," leading to additional training for the pilots and improved go-around procedures with a focus on better auto-flight monitoring and timely intervention.
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