Flight Safety Detectives

• Risky Choices Kill Overconfident Pilot - Episode 290

  What’s the latest with Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370)? The 777 disappeared over 11 years ago. John Goglia and Todd Curtis provide the latest details. They also look at a 2023 crash of a Robinson R22 helicopter in rural Australia. The evening flight ended in tragedy when the pilot was killed when the helicopter crashed into trees at about 88 knots.The helicopter was not equipped for night flying and lacked an artificial horizon. The pilot relied on a lighted helipad for guidance but could not see it because of smoke in the area due to controlled burns. Despite multiple radio calls reporting he could not see the lights, the pilot continued the flight. This incident is a case of an overconfident pilot flying in conditions beyond his qualifications or experience. The pilot had flown at night before without proper qualifications, leading to complacency. The pilot took unnecessary risks by taking off at night without the proper equipment, experience, and judgment. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected]. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• 40+ Reportable Aviation Events in 12 Days & NTSB Reports Fall Short - Episode 289

  August in flight safety: at least 40 reportable events in just 12 days. The Flight Safety Detectives have reason to believe the number of events is even higher.Worse, the NTSB is putting out inadequate reports. They often provide the obvious cause and do not dig in to find the root cause. Significant questions are left with no answers. Greg Feith notes every accident has a safety lesson to learn.The NTSB preliminary report for a fatal crash of a Piper J5 Cub that happened on the first of the month, was a situation where the aircraft had been sitting idle for months and likely had an engine problem due to fuel contamination. The investigation documented the engine failure but apparently did not look into whether there had been a thorough preflight of the aircraft.Another just-released report covers an accident involving a new aircraft being ferried from Canada across the Atlantic to its new owner in Portugal. The pilot and most of the aircraft were not found, but key information, such as the logbooks for the pilot and the aircraft, was recovered. Despite the ample evidence from the crash and information from Canadian authorities and other parties to the investigation, the NTSB probable cause simply stated that the plane impacted the ocean.More than enough information is available to support a specific root cause. The NTSB did not attempt to address basic questions about the circumstances of the accident, such as what anti-icing or deicing capability the plane had, whether the pilot conducted a thorough preflight plan for the trip, or even if the pilot had the basic qualifications to conduct the flight. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected]. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• Strange High-Altitude Encounters Get Stranger - Episode 288

  The investigation continues into two unusual high-altitude encounters initially described as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drone sightings. Information gathered since the Flight Safety Detectives’ first look at this incident has made these strange events seem like unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) incidents.In December 2024, a Delta 767 crew reported being shadowed for over an hour at 34,000 feet by multiple flashing red-and-white aircraft over New Mexico and Arizona—well above legal drone limits and invisible to ATC radar. FAA records later indicated four objects maneuvering close to the jet, one within 1,000 feet.Shortly after, a United 787 at 27,000 feet had a brief, separate encounter with a similar object. FOIA requests revealed details that made these cases more consistent with UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) than drones, given their altitude, endurance, and performance.Greg Feith, John Goglia, and Todd Curtis discuss aviation safety concerns, the FAA’s lack of a dedicated UAP reporting system, and the stigma pilots face in reporting such events. Todd plans to mine FAA drone-incident data and Mandatory Occurrence Reports to identify other likely UAP encounters. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected]. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• Fuel & Fatal Choices - Lessons from July SR22T Crash - Episode 287

  A Cirrus SR22T in North Carolina killed the pilot and his entire family. The known details of this July 2025 crash raise serious questions about pilot decisions throughout the flight.The pilot was flying from Florida to North Carolina and ran into trouble early in the trip. The plane experienced electrical problems that worsened throughout the trip. Despite having opportunities to land at several airports, the pilot continued. The aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed a few miles from the destination, killing everyone on board.Several pilot decisions increased the risk of the flight, particularly the choice to continue flying after key systems began to malfunction. Also, the aircraft had a parachute system that would have likely saved everyone on board. However, the deployment handle safety pin was not removed pre-flight so the system would not activate. This episode also has some harsh words for the passengers in the recent 737 takeoff incident in Denver who went down emergency exists with luggage. Exiting the aircraft quickly and safely in an emergency is far more important than what is in any carry-on bag. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected]. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• DC Midair Collision Gets Hearing - Episode 286

  The NTSB just finished a 3-day hearing about the fatal January 2025 midair collision between an airliner and a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis tuned in and share their takeaways.The hearing covered many issues, particularly the role that FAA and Army procedures and systems played in the crash. They credit NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and Member Todd Inman with assertive questioning that took the FAA to task for lack of cooperation with the NTSB. The NTSB can't make regulations and can only recommend them. This independence is crucial, but it limits its power to implement significant changes. The regulatory process and the technological complexity of the air traffic system mean that any recommendations coming from this investigation may take years.Overall, this accident investigation is being conducted in a way that will advance aviation safety. However, the resources devoted to this investigation may affect the quality of other current NTSB investigations and aviation safety initiatives. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected]. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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