Aviation Expert Determines Whether Human Factors Caused Fatal Crash

Case Overview

This case involves a fatal plane crash in Montana. The pilot was an elderly female with 30 years of aviation experience at the time of the accident. The route was only 4 hours and she had flown it before. The pilot had used GPS technology while in flight and there were no abnormal weather conditions before or at the time of the accident. The plane was serviced right before the accident including a full inspection, engine repair, and installation of new parts. It was alleged that the engineer who performed the engine repair caused the damage that resulted in this accident. The engineer asserted that his job was done with no errors and that pilot’s error caused the crash. An aviation expert was sought to determine whether human error or malfunction of the plane caused the accident.

Questions to the Aviation expert and their responses

Please explain your background in aviation.

I am a consultant with general/commercial aviation experience, regulatory experience with the FAA, and piloting experience as a retired US Army/FAA experimental test pilot. I have FAA airplane, rotorcraft, seaplane and ground instructor ratings. I am also an FAA designated engineering representative (DER) flight test analyst. I have relevant experience in numerous forums on accidents, causal analysis, and human factors. I have provided expert witness testimony and reports on both airplane and rotorcraft accidents. I also have participated in numerous investigations on either the FAA or other parties, including engine, general aviation, commercial aviation, and rotorcraft accidents.

About the expert

This expert is one of the leaders in his industry and has extensive experience in the field of aviation and risk management, specializing in materials and properties laboratories, engineering operations, safety management systems, quality, flight tests, and unmanned aerial systems. He earned his BS in aeronautical technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his MS in aerospace management from the University of Tennessee. This expert then started his career as a United States Army pilot, before advancing to several senior positions with the Federal Aviation Administration. As Manager Rotorcraft Directorate with the FAA, he was responsible for all FAA Experimental Test Flight policies, training, and administration for over 250 companies. He collaborated with the industry to lower the number of fatal accidents from 30 to 14 per year over a five-year average. This expert received the Tony LaVier Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots for Lifetime Achievement in Flight Safety. He is a member of numerous prestigious organizations in the aviation, engineering, and safety fields. Moreover, he has authored 9 publications in his field and is a frequently invited guest speaker at major aviation events. Currently, he is a consultant at an international safety and risk management company serving in Texas.

E-009401

Specialties:

Aviation