Unsafe Runway Causes Fatal Crash

Case Overview

This case takes place in Texas and involves a man who died while performing his duties as a pilot. On the day of the accident, the pilot was approaching the airport and while concentrating on maneuvering, struck a radar tower that hade been recently built near the approach to the landing strip. It is alleged that the pilots employer did not have the right safety markers, spotters, and other aviation safety features in place to prevent an accident like this from occurring. It is further alleged that the radar tower was built in a location that posed a direct threat to landing pilots. Expert witnesses on aviation appraisal, airport management and aerospace engineering were sought to opine on the issue.

Questions to the Aviation expert and their responses

Are you familiar with the types of safety mechanisms that should be used to prevent accidents?

The type of systems would include but not limited to adherence to the FAA AC on marking for landing zones for rotorcraft. The markings are well understood and also include the Operator's Operations Specification (see 14 CFR part 135). A prudent operator would also have a Safety Management System (SMS). An SMS would require the operator to fully identify the risks and hazards and to apply mitigation measures. The SMS would also require the use of ground crew as determined during the risk assessment.

What type of markers, spotters should be on ground to assist the pilot in avoid dangerous obstacles in air?

What duty does an aviation company have to provide their employees ( pilots) with the necessary safety options?

An FAA certificated operator would have to provide training, procedures and appropriate internal qualities systems to insure compliance with documentation. I have reviewed numerous accidents and incidents where the appropriate prudent use of an SMS would have prevented both injuries and death.

About the expert

This aviation and aerospace expert is one of the leaders in his industry and has extensive experience in flight test, materials and properties laboratories, unmanned aerial systems, engineering operations, Safety Management Systems and quality. This expert started his career as a United State Army pilot and then advanced to several senior positions with the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA). As Manager Rotorcraft Directorate with the FAA, he was responsible for all FAA Experimental Test Flight policy, training, and administration for over 250 companies. He collaborated with 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 field. He has authored 9 publications in the field and is a frequently invited guest speaker at major aviation events. This expert was the 2014 commencement speaker at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he also earned his BS in Aeronautical Technology. He received his MS in Aerospace Management at the University of Tennessee Space Institute. Currently, he is the President of an independent aviation consulting firm and President of an international safety and risk management company serving the aviation industry.