Bad Decisions Take Airplanes Out of the Sky – Episode 205
The events that led up to the crash of a MD82 in Detroit are used to illustrate the critical role of operational discipline. Greg, Todd and John give insight into the issues that led to Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashing and disintegrating. This is just one example of bad decisions taking an airplane out of the sky.
This aviation disaster killed two people on the ground and nearly everyone on board. The sole survivor was a four-year-old girl who was seriously injured. Hear the experts dissect the chain of events that led to the crash, including multiple distractions and delays and the crew neglecting to complete the taxi checklist.
The report from the accident does not discuss crew resource management (CRM) practices of the accident flight crew. John discusses how CRM practices were adopted in the 1980s to reduce aviation safety risks by having flight crews become more consistent in managing aircraft operations.
Greg and John showcase other noteworthy accident investigations that are examples of behaviors that had to be changed in the cockpit and how not following basic CRM practices leads to accidents.
Checklist discipline is important in all types of aviation operations, including general aviation. Complex flight management systems that are now common even in single engine general aviation aircraft.
Hear also what passengers can do to improve their safety in flight.
Related documents:
- NTSB Report: Northwest Airlines DC9-82 fatal accident 1987
- NTSB Report: ValuJet DC9-32 fatal accident May 1996
- NTSB Report: ValuJet DC9-32 hard landing accident January 1996
- NTSB Report: Fatal Gulfstream IV accident 2014
- NTSB Report: Fatal United Airlines DC8-61 accident 1978
- NTSB Report: Scaled Composites fatal SpaceShipTwo accident 2014
- NTSB Report: Fatal Delta Air Lines 727 accident 1988
- NTSB Report: US Airways A320 ditching 2009
- NTSB Report: Fatal USAir 737-400 accident 1989
- NTSB Report: Fatal Air Canada DC9-32 accident 1983
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