Pilot error: Anatomies of aircraft accidents

by Flying Magazine

The twenty-five accident reports in this book originally appeared in Flying Magazine as bimonthly column entitled Pilot Error. The purpose of the column was to allow pilots to learn from the mistakes and misfortunes of others ans to avoid repeating them. At the same time the reports were widely felt to offer some of the most gripping reading in the magazine. The title Pilot Error has led to misunderstandings. It is a ready-made phrase commonly used in accident reports to cover all possible contributing factors that in some way or other involve the acts or omissions of the pilot. It does not have precise meaning. In fact, much of what in retrospect appears as an error may at the time have seemed the best of several alternatives, and not every move that leads eventually to an accident was necessarily and obviously an error. Furthermore, the fatal outcome of these cases produces the impression that the errors of the pilots must have particularly grave or flagrant. This is not the case. In fact, what makes these reports especially chilling reading for pilots is the knowledge that they themselves have again and again made the same errors but have in one way or another escaped the ultimate retribution. It is not our purpose to say that this or that pilot acted well or our purpose is to show the ways in which events unfold. again and again, in aviation accidents so that other pilots may recognize and avoid the pitfalls that have claimed so many lives in the past.

Genres: Aviation

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[J.A. Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started flight training for my private pilot's license I decided on two things: 1. I wanted to experience flying in terrible weather because some day I might encounter that. 2. I believe that people learn not only by doing but by making mistakes. I wanted to read about what NOT to do and end up a page or two in a book like this or an NTSB report. This book was given to me as a present with the presenter knowing the aforementioned criteria.

It does not disappoint.

Some of the accidents in it leave you shaking your head wondering "why?" There was, of course, mechanical failures but if I had to give an overview of the one common reason for the accidents it would be "complacency". Forgetting or not performing basic principles or checks because they had been done so many times. Many were avoidable. Like the title says: "Pilot Error". That got my attention.