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World-renowned aviation-industry consultants and former NTSB investigators John Goglia and Greg Feith have 100 years of worldwide aviation safety experience between them. In this hard-hitting podcast series they talk about everything aviation -- from the behind-the-scenes facts on deadly air crashes to topics of interest such as tips and tricks for navigating through airports and security, traveling with infants and children, unruly passengers, and packing your bags to ease through security.
Episode 117 This episode kicks off with a recap of the 2022 Aerospace Maintenance Competition. John applauds the talents of the more than 350 participants. More than 800 people attended the event! Team and individuals earned awards and scholarships. More than 25 people also earned final interviews with companies in attendance to staff their mainten…
Episode 116 Todd Curtis has decided to return to the cockpit after decades and he’s sharing his experience. Whether you are new to aviation or are rusty after a brief or long time away from flying, this discussion is for you. Todd and John walk through the steps and how to have a safety mindset from day one. How to find the right instructor Having …
Episode 115 Greg Feith flies solo as he presents a roundup of recent fatal air crashes. The focus is on three accidents now under investigation that add to the escalation of fatal crashes this year. Hear preliminary details related to the crashes that involved a Cessna 340 in Georgia, a Cessna 337 in California, and a Diamond DA40. Greg surfaces th…
Episode 114 This episode is about facts and their impact on the work of air crash investigators. Building a complete backstory with facts leads to an effective investigation. Two recent accidents have few facts to work with. The available facts related to the 737 Max continue to be swept aside in favor of more headline-grabbing narratives. John and…
Episode 113 John, Greg and special guest Geoffrey Thomas offer the facts about Boeing and the 737 Max. They call out the sensationalism of the Netflix documentary “Downfall” and dig into facts that offer a more true picture of the airline and issues that led to the Lion Air and Ethiopian crashes. Geoff is a world-renowned multi-award-winning writer…
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Details About China Eastern Plane Crash and a Challenge for Mechanics
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Episode 112 Greg and John dive into the latest details emerging about the China Eastern Flight 5735 crash on March 21. They also cover the backstory and impact of the Aerospace Maintenance Competition coming April 25-28. The Chinese Government has allowed the NTSB to assist as technical advisors in investigating the China Eastern crash. Greg and Jo…
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Deadly Helicopter Crash and Flight Instructor Issues
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Episode 111 A recent helicopter crash in Texas took the lives of a student pilot and a flight instructor. Helicopter fleets are growing – are there enough highly qualified flight instructors to keep pace with the demand? Greg, John and Todd look at the initial information about this tragedy. They explore known safety issues with Robinson 44 helicop…
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Compton Crash Is a Lesson in What Not to Do
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Episode 110 The ultimate tragedy of a runway crash at the Compton airport is that is never should have happened. For Greg, Todd and John, it’s a textbook example of what not do to as a pilot. They explore the many bad decisions made by the pilot of a vintage T28 Warbird that landed on top of a Cessna 152. As they review the information in the NTSB …
Episode 109 The investigation is ongoing related to a Dec 2021 fatal crash involving a Cessna 208B and a powered glider. Both pilots were fatally injured in the accident that appears to have happened when the glider was higher than permitted altitude. The impact separated the plane’s right wing. The Cessna was operated as a Part 135 cargo flight, a…
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Malaysian Flight 370 Crash Update Plus War Impacts Aviation Safety
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Episode 108 Efforts continue to get to the bottom of the crash of MH 370. Eight years after the crash, John and Todd are in touch with the people who are working to find the wreckage and uncover the facts. John shares the latest developments from a group in Australia advocating to move the search area to the south. Hear the evidence that points to …
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Ukraine Crisis and Other Aviation Threats, Thumbs Down for Downfall
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Aviation is in the news and the headlines are tragic. The Ukraine crisis poses new risks for commercial aviation safety. Fatal general aviation accidents are on the rise. Netflix’s “Downfall – the Case Against Boeing” chooses emotion over facts. The FAA administrator’s sudden resignation adds to the turmoil. Greg, John and Todd share their insights…
Episode 106 Dissecting the fatal crash of a Cirrus SR20 near Hobby Airport in Texas. This accident highlights the value of careful preflight planning. “Solid preflight planning leaves nothing to chance, and that would have made a difference here,” says John Goglia. While the pilot had experience with the aircraft, her experience landing at a high t…
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Frontier-Spirit Merger Creating One Gigantic Bad Airline?
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Episode 105 Greg and John are all over the news reports of the proposed merger of Frontier and Spirit airlines. Both companies have low customer satisfaction ratings. Will the combination create a larger poor performing airline or lead to safety improvements? The conversation covers the back stories of several past commercial airline mergers. They …
Episode 104 The NTSB final report related to a Cessna 172 crash has Greg, John and Todd concluding that pilots and mechanics are being led to focus on the wrong safety issues. Chasing the wrong issues is stalling advances in aviation safety. This accident is cited as the basis for a NTSB safety recommendation to add active carbon monoxide detectors…
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United Aviate Academy – Better or Worse than College Programs?
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Episode 103 United Airlines just launched its own flight school. Does United Aviate Academy offer a better option for would-be pilots than college aviation programs? Greg, John and Todd share first impressions. The program appears to be more expensive than other ways of earning pilot credentials and stops short of ATP certification. They talk about…
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Wellstone Crash Report Misses Important Safety Findings
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Episode 102 Even high-profile crashes can result in NTSB reports that miss important safety takeaways. The focus of this episode is the October 2002 crash that killed Senator Paul Wellstone and seven others. John, Greg, Todd and guest Dick Healing talk about facts that played a much greater role in the accident than the listed probable cause. “Ther…
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Last US Airline Drops College Education Requirement for Pilots
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Episode 101 Greg, John and Todd have a lively conversation triggered by the recent announcement from Delta Airlines that pilots no longer need a college education. Will this impact aviation safety? “I know a lot of pilots that know aviation but don’t understand aviation,” says Greg. He adds that investigating the results of their poor decisions kee…
Episode 100 Episode 100 looks ahead to what’s next for Flight Safety Detectives. There’s a fresh new look and new segments to educate and entertain while doing the serious work of promoting aviation safety. Hear John and Greg talk about their plans for 2022. They offer updates on recent major accidents covered in earlier episodes: Pratt & Whitney e…
Episode 99 Winter weather and questionable piloting have led to another series of aviation accidents. Greg and John look at the initial information and stress the importance of not flying beyond your skills and knowledge. One fatal crash took the life of their good friend Charlie Schneider, CEO of MYGOFLIGHT. They share the known details that led t…
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Fatal Aircraft Accidents Raise Safety Questions – Episode 98
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This episode opens with a recap of the recent ceremony where John received the National Aeronautic Association Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award. The event recognized his many contributions to aviation. John, Greg and Todd review four recent aircraft accidents – three general aviation and one commercial. They offer initial analysis and the …
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Flight Safety Tips for General Aviation this Holiday Season
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Episode 97 A number of accidents happened Thanksgiving weekend, a trend that needs to be changed. Greg and John offer several flight safety tips for general aviation pilots planning holiday travel. Listen to make sure you’re planning for the safest trip possible. John and Greg cover the importance of preflight planning, factoring in weather en rout…
Episode 96 Safety training for the aviation community isn’t effective and needs an overhaul. Greg and John drive home this point by talking about the high rate of fatal accidents in November. Particular focus is on the accident that killed Blue Origin crew member Glen de Vries. “We’re not reaching pilots and the aviation community with effective sa…
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Icing Issues General Aviation Pilots Need to Know
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Episode 95 Several accidents caused by icing reveal safety information that pilots need to know. As we head into a time when icing can be common, John, Greg and Todd want to be sure everyone avoids the mistakes other pilots have made. “Icing has greater impact on general aviation aircraft than commercial planes. It is important to be prepared for i…
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Fascinating Back Stories of a Life in Aviation
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Episode 94 The conversation continues with Hoot Gibson. Gibson’s life in aviation started growing up and took him to the cockpit of Navy fighters, NASA space shuttles and many test and race aircraft. Hoot, John, Greg and Todd cover the many unique experiences of Gibson’s career. His experiences and lessons learned offer every pilot key takeaways. H…
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Space Safety Insights with Hall of Fame Astronaut Hoot Gibson
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Episode 93 Hoot Gibson is the special guest for this discussion of space safety lessons that benefit all aspects of aviation. Gibson is a five-time space shuttle crew member and a professional pilot. He shares his experiences to offer insights into the importance of scrutinizing even the smallest issues and the value of training in preparing for fl…
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Ohio Accident Report Weak on Facts – Episode 92
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Greg, John and Todd take a look at the NTSB report of a 2019 crash in Auburn Township, Ohio. They question the conclusion that the cause was spatial disorientation. Overall, the report lacks information to benefit air safety. They explore additional factors worthy of more detail than is found in the report: “Getthereitis” despite poor weather Pilot…
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NBAA Spotlights Avionics, Automations and Technology
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Episode 91 Greg and John share takeaways from the recent National Business Aviation Association annual convention in Las Vegas. While there, they offered maintenance personnel a training session on the accident investigation process and the role they should play. The convention has Greg and John focused on the future of avionics, automations and ot…
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Two Crashes Show Importance of Preflight Inspections
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Episode 90 Don’t let an inadequate preflight inspection come back to haunt you. Simple issues can lead to serious accidents for general aviation pilots. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Jason Lukasik look at two accidents to show how preflight inspections can avoid crashes, injury and death. A Piper Seneca crash was attributed to missing cotter pins on …
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Engine Oil Analysis Data Tells a Flight Safety Story
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Episode 89 A Cessna 177RG Cardinal RG crash in September 2021 appears to be the result of poor maintenance and pilot error. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Jason Lukasik dive into key elements of the NTSB preliminary report. The oil analysis alone gives important insight into chronic engine maintenance issues that likely led to the crash. The pilot was…
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Fresh Analysis of Deadly Crash Involving Travis Barker
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Episode 88 The Flight Safety Detectives offer a fresh analysis of the 2008 crash of a Lear Model 60 in Columbia, South Carolina. Travis Barker was one of two passengers who survived the crash that killed the flight crew and two passengers. Crew performance issues started long before the aircraft started takeoff. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Cur…
Episode 87 Several recent airplane crashes appear to be the result of rusty pilots not following pre-flight checklists and best practices. John, Greg and Todd talk about the difference between accidents that are caused by some anomaly and crashes that result from intentional or negligent actions. Initial information indicates that 2021 is rife with…
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Digging into Cessna 421 Crash Reveals Missed Safety Issues
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Episode 86 The NTSB has finished the investigation into a 2011 crash of a Cessna 421 but the Flight Safety Detectives have issues with the listed probable cause. Further investigation reveals a completely different root cause. Greg, John and Todd go through the details to reveal important aviation safety findings. While the NTSB cited the failure o…
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Cape Air Crash Has Takeaways for All Pilots
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Episode 85 The pilot and six passengers were injured when a Cape Air Cessna 402 crashed just past the runway of Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC) in Massachusetts on Sept 9. Information is just starting to be collected but Greg, John and Todd already see key takeaways to benefit every pilot. The NTSB has launched an investigation. Questions to l…
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Ignoring Service Bulletins and ADs Can Lead to Tragedy
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Episode 84 Ignore that seemingly mundane safety bulletin at your own peril. John, Greg and guest Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants and former FAA inspector, talk about the importance of knowing and acting on all levels of service instructions. Three levels of service instructions are routinely issued for aircraft. Service letters…
Episode 83 Guest Jonathan Rupprecht of Rupprecht Law joins John and Todd for a discussion of a lawsuit related to recent FAA rulemaking involving drones. The new rule effectively puts drone pilots under surveillance and create significant limits on use. Jonathan discusses his work with Tyler Brennan and RaceDayQuads to petition the FAA to reconside…
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Chain of Events Leads to Tragic LAX Runway Accident
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Episode 82 USAir Flight 1493, a Boeing 737-300, collided with SkyWest Flight 5569, a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft, upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport in Feb.1991. John led the machinist’s union investigation and discusses the chain of events that led to this accident. The air traffic local controller was distrac…
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Inside the Investigation of Korean Air Flight 801
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Episode 81 Greg was the investigator in charge of the National Transportation Safety Board investigation of Korean Air Flight 801. He shares backstories not in the report to add to understanding of the accident and aftermath. Flight 801 crashed on August 6, 1997, killing 229of the 254 people aboard. The aircraft crashed on Nimitz Hill in Guam while…
Episode 80 Oshkosh 2021 was an adventure! More than 600,000 people and 10,000 planes were onsite. Greg and John took it all in and share the highlights. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital was a special exhibit. John had worked on the plane when it was in service for an airline. The Flying Eye Hospital is a state-of-the-art teaching facility complete wit…
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TWA Flight 514 Lasting Impact on Aviation Safety
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Episode 79 TWA Flight 514 crashed into Mount Weather in Virginia in 1974 and changed aviation safety forever. This accident led to the creation of the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). The TWA 727 crash was due in part to ambiguous information provided to the crew. As a result of the accident, the FAA and NASA created ASRS. The ASRS lets avi…
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Flight 810 Questions Lead to Questions
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Episode 78 This conversation covers emerging information about Transair Flight 810. The plane crashed in the ocean on July 2 shortly after takeoff from Honolulu. John, Greg and Todd raise a series of questions important to the investigation: Air traffic control handling of the incident Flight path after the engine failure Engine history and mainten…
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Is a Rise in Aircraft Accidents a COVID Legacy?
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Episode 77 The number of serious aircraft accidents is on the upswing. Greg, John and Todd talk about the accumulating numbers and wonder if COVID shutdowns have led to rusty pilot skills. The July 2 accident in Hawaii also leads to reflection on the July 2, 1994 crash of USAir Flight 1016. Greg and John were both involved. They offer insight to wh…
Episode 76 Greg and John discuss breaking news of a 737 crash in Hawaii on July 2. A Boeing 737 cargo plane crashed off the coast of Hawaii after experiencing engine trouble. The aircraft departed Honolulu airport but went down in the water soon after taking off. The Coast Guard rescued both pilots from the sea. The pilot reported one engine out an…
Episode 75 This episode focuses on the US Navy report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Greg, John and Todd talk about the issues covered in the report from the perspective of flight safety. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued the Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena on June 25. The Navy videos confirme…
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Alarming Passenger Behavior Threatens Flight Safety
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Episode 74 Todd Curtis of airsafe.com joins John and Greg for a look at the alarming rise in unruly passenger behavior on flights. Fistfights, attempts to open cabin doors and more are disrupting flights. They outline the federal rules and regulations in play as well as airline policies to attempt to keep everyone on board safe. Offenders are prose…
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Accident 42 Years Ago Has Safety Lessons Today
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Episode 73 Airports are humming again with COVID restrictions being lifted. That has John and Greg talking about commercial airline safety. The focus of this episode is maintenance lessons learned from the 1979 American Airlines DC10 accident in Chicago. Greg was just coming on board NTSB when the investigation began and John knows several of the k…
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Attracting Underserved Communities to Aviation Careers
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Episode 72 Rebecca Lutte from University of Nebraska and Cassandra Bosco of TailWinds Communications Inc visit to talk about attracting more people to careers in aviation. Special focus is closing gender gaps and access for underserved communities. Wide-ranging programs and resources are highlighted. Many organizations are working on efforts to cre…
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Tribute to Charles Taylor the Father of Aircraft Maintenance
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Episode 71 This special episode celebrates the legacy of Charlie Taylor as the father if aircraft maintenance. Taylor built the first aircraft engine used by the Wright brothers in the Wright Flyer. He set the professional standards followed by professional aircraft mechanics today. Special guests are: Ken Mactiernan, Director at the Aircraft Maint…
Episode 70 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students get real about their school and their education. Hear how COVID and online learning impacted them. Be prepared to be wowed by their passion for aviation! John and Greg talk about the many opportunities for people with the skills taught at ERAU – in aviation as well as other fields. They talk …
Episode 69 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University masters students share details from their research into safety issues in aviation. Greg and John make connections between the research and their own experiences. They go in depth on the issue of carry-on bags in cases of aircraft evacuation. Research has generated quantitative data on how passengers i…
