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 2014 Gulfstream GIV crash, which killed seven people, was caused by the flight crew's failure to perform pre-takeoff checks, attempting to take off with the gust-lock engaged, and a delayed rejected takeoff.
- Contributing factors included a critical design flaw in the GIV's gust-lock system that did not meet FAA certification requirements, and the FAA's failure to identify this inadequacy during the aircraft's certification process.
- The NTSB's in-depth "Go Team" investigation resulted in five safety recommendations, including mandates for aircraft retrofits, improved airport infrastructure, and stricter pilot adherence to checklists, to prevent similar future accidents.
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