Accident Offers Lesson in Combating Pilot Complacency

Michael Wildes says when pilots gain more experience, some let their guard down—sometimes to chilling effect.

Michael Wildes

Monday, November 08, 2021 at 05:01 PM ET

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Michael Wildes says there are lots of things pilots can do to fend off complacency. Adobe Stock

Key Takeaways:

The 2019 Addison crash, caused by pilot error during an engine failure on takeoff, highlights that even highly experienced pilots can mismanage critical emergencies due to complacency.
Key contributing factors to the accident included the pilot's startled reaction, absence of pre-flight emergency briefings, failure to utilize checklists, and inadequate crew resource management.
To counter complacency and enhance safety, the article emphasizes the importance of systematic practices for all pilots, such as thorough briefings, consistent checklist use, and clear crew roles.
New technologies, like Garmin's Smart Rudder Bias, offer promising solutions to assist pilots in maintaining control during engine-out events, potentially mitigating human error.

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Earlier this year, the NTSB determined that the cause of an accident in Addison, Texas, in June 2019, was the result of pilot error. Specifically, the report noted that the pilot of Beechcraft King Air 350 experienced a left engine failure on liftoff, and responded with left rudder input, the very opposite of what was needed. The pilot, his co-pilot and eight passengers on board were killed.

According to the report, if the pilot determined the need for right rudder and used that instead, the airplane would have been controllable.