The ADS-B track from the NTSB’s preliminary report shows chilling flight paths for the accident aircraft at KVGT. [Image: NTSB]
Key Takeaways:
Mid-air collisions are a significant risk, particularly near airports and in traffic patterns, even on clear VFR days, as evidenced by recent accidents.
These incidents often result from a "Swiss Cheese Model" alignment of multiple failures, including aircraft speed differences, blind spots, and deviations from standard procedures like straight-in approaches.
Pilots hold the ultimate responsibility for collision avoidance ("see and avoid"), requiring strict adherence to traffic pattern rules, diligent visual scanning, and clear radio communication, as even control towers don't guarantee prevention.
I was four days away from my private pilot check ride. My CFI, an Air Force Academy graduate, was with me as I practiced specialty takeoffs and landings at the towered airport. I had just completed the pre-landing GUMPS check on downwind, when he cried out the magic phrase—”I have the controls”—and I replied, “Your airplane!” and let go.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
