SR22 Electrical Failure Crash; Air India Fuel Switches, Cessna 240 Crashes into Pacific
NTSB News Talk – Aviation Accidents, Safety Investigations & Pilot LessonsShow Notes
Max Trescott and Rob Mark return for episode five of NTSB News Talk with a full slate of recent accidents and preliminary reports that highlight critical lessons in decision-making, mechanical failure, and situational awareness. They start with the tragic crash of a Cirrus SR22 in North Carolina that killed a family of four. The aircraft had experienced electrical issues early in the flight, and despite indications of ongoing problems, the pilot chose to continue to the destination rather than land. Max emphasizes how what may seem like a minor issue—such as an alternator failure—can escalate, especially if the pilot doesn’t fully understand the systems or how cascading failures can emerge. Next, they examine a mid-air collision in Steinbach, Manitoba between two Cessna training aircraft. Despite clear weather and an active pattern, both pilots were killed. Max reminds listeners that most mid-airs happen close to airports, often on final. Rob adds that see-and-avoid doesn’t always work, especially with sun glare or poor traffic sequencing. They then move to a bizarre and poorly documented case of a Cessna T240 that departed Ramona, California and flew 400 miles offshore before descending into the Pacific. With no radio contact and the aircraft failing to respond to repeated ATC calls, the case raises the possibility of a medical event or incapacitation. The plane was never recovered. A medical charter King Air crash in London, UK, is briefly discussed. The aircraft appeared to roll left and crash immediately after takeoff. Rob stresses the importance of immediate rudder input and pitch control following engine failure in twins. A major focus of the episode is the preliminary report on Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 that lost both engines seconds after rotation. Both fuel cutoff switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF, then briefly back. One pilot is heard asking, “Why did you cut the fuel?” The other responds, “I didn’t do anything.” Rob and Max explore the implications of this odd event, especially in light of a 2018 FAA bulletin about fuel control switch locking mechanisms. Despite the non-mandatory nature of the bulletin, it directly referenced the potential for disengagement of the locking feature. Rob explains how the switches require a deliberate lift-and-pull action to move into CUTOFF, making accidental movement unlikely. Suicide and sabotage are also deemed improbable. The discussion turns back to U.S. reports, including a crash in Montana where a Cessna 172 flew low and hit unmarked power lines. Max reiterates how hard it is to see wires until it's too late. Rob reflects on his own youthful low-level flying and how little awareness he had of such hazards at the time. They then discuss a helicopter crash in Alaska. A Robinson R66 pilot operating in flat, snow-covered terrain under a 500-foot overcast likely experienced whiteout conditions and lost situational awareness. Max explains how disorientation is common in visually featureless environments—recounting his own night flight in hazy conditions where city lights and stars blurred together. They also dissect a De Havilland Twin Otter crash in Tennessee during a skydiving flight. A left engine power loss forced a turnback attempt. The aircraft crashed into trees short of the runway, severely damaging the left wing and engine. Six people were seriously injured, though none killed. Rob questions the decision to add flaps during the emergency and notes the pilot’s inability to confirm if he secured the failed engine. Finally, the hosts cover the NTSB final report of a 2023 Cessna 172 crash near San Rafael, CA. The pilot failed to apply carb heat during descent at night and suffered an engine failure. The aircraft struck a power line and terrain. Max references carb ice charts and highlights how even VFR conditions can require IFR-like vigilance, especially during nighttime descents. The episode wraps with Rob pointing out a discrepancy between NTSB and FAA data on the air
More from NTSB News Talk – Aviation Accidents, Safety Investigations & Pilot Lessons
A Boeing 767 lands more than 3,700 feet down a Miami runway and overruns the pavement, killing five people on the ground. A Cirrus SR22 crashes during a second go-around, killing all five aboard. And a Cessna 421 loses both engines after being fueled with Jet A instead of avgas. In Episode 41 of NTSB News Talk, aviation safety experts Max Trescott and Rob Mark examine the critical decisions behind these accidents and the lessons pilots can take away. The newly released Miami Boeing 767 preliminary report raises serious questions about tailwinds, unstable approaches, airspeed warnings, and a go-around attempted far too late. A new NTSB final report on a fatal Cirrus SR22 crash at Kill Devil Hills reveals striking flight-data evidence of excessive pitch and an aerodynamic stall. The hosts also discuss Diamond DA40 crashed in mountainous terrain near Eldorado Springs, Colorado, a deadly Piper JetProp icing encounter over Wisconsin, a Gulfstream air ambulance crash following reported electrical problems, a Beech Bonanza fuel-starvation accident involving a congressman, a fatal nighttime Piper crash, and a midair collision between gliders. From fuel management and emergency procedures to stall prevention and go-around proficiency, this episode highlights a fundamental truth: even experienced pilots cannot afford to skip the basics.
Episode 40 examines a wide range of recent accidents before focusing on a troubling pattern: pilots flying with impairing OTC medications or drugs in their systems. Max Trescott and Rob Mark begin with a fatal nighttime crash of C-GPTX, a Cessna 172 in Saskatchewan and the runway overrun of Eclipse 500 N816KD at Auburn, California. They also discuss Beech Travel Air N529RB, which was flown in repeated low-level circles about 100 feet above the Pacific before crashing into the ocean, raising the possibility of an intentional act. Preliminary reports include Piper Seneca N212ML, lost near the Bahamas in convective weather; C-IFBY, a Para-Ski VX powered parachute carrying three people even though its U.S. operation did not qualify under Part 103; and Lake Amphibian N6185V, which apparently ran out of fuel just miles from Ithaca. Final reports include a fatal VFR-into-IMC accident involving N9626K, a Piper PA-28 and the crash of Ameriflight Beech C99 N130GP after a partial engine-power loss. The episode closes with four fatal-accident reports involving the active ingredients in Benadryl and Zyrtec, or cyclobenzaprine, cannabis, or morphine. The takeaway is simple: “over the counter” does not mean “safe to fly,” and pilots need to understand the FAA’s medication waiting-period guidance. Max also explains why medication effects can undermine a pilot’s own self-assessment.
New information from the NTSB is filling in the final seconds of the Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 crash in Miami. The agency’s summary of the cockpit voice recorder shows repeated concerns about excessive speed, followed by touchdown and then, 16 seconds later, a call for a go-around. The brakes were released at a ground speed of 120 knots and go-around thrust was applied before the attempt was abandoned. Recorded data showed no indication that the speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed. Max Trescott also revisits his ADS-B analysis of Flight 7598 and explains why he believes an automation surprise involving the Boeing 767’s vertical modes may have contributed to the airplane becoming high and fast. Then Max and Rob Mark examine the fatal KNBC AS350B2 helicopter crash in Los Angeles, including ADS-B evidence and reports of a possible low-rotor-RPM warning. Other accidents include N734ZK, a Cessna 172N crash at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, N9485P, a fatal Piper Comanche accident at a short Alaska runway, N93R, a Lockheed 12A that took off with full flaps, a fuel-exhaustion accident involving N413AW, a Pipistrel Alpha, and N188PC, a Pilatus PC-12 loss of control in IMC. The episode closes with a story from the NASA ASRS Callback newsletter about a Cirrus pilot’s successful recovery from a dangerous distraction in instrument conditions.
An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 crashes after overrunning Runway 30 at Miami International Airport—and ADS-B data contains an important clue about how the approach became unstable. In this episode, we analyze the September 6 crash of Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air with Boeing 767 N1997A. The flight from San Juan initially followed an almost perfect three-degree approach toward Miami. But approximately five miles from the runway, the aircraft unexpectedly leveled near 1,600 feet. The ADS-B data shows that 1,600 feet had been entered as the selected altitude much earlier in the descent. That raises the possibility of an automation surprise, although another possibility is that the crew leveled inadvertently after disconnecting the autopilot to hand-fly. The crew then attempted to recover using a descent approaching twice the normal glide angle. The 767 crossed the displaced threshold around 175 knots, apparently touched down near 160 knots, and was still traveling about 110 knots when it left the runway. We also examine a fatal PC-12 spatial-disorientation accident, new evidence of helicopter wake turbulence in a Cessna 150 collision, and a troubling student-pilot night CFIT accident involving a CFI cross-country endorsement. FAA No Go Over the Counter Medications List
In Episode 37 of NTSB News Talk, Max Trescott and Rob Mark examine new evidence from the fatal Learjet 55 air ambulance crash in Philadelphia and several other accidents with important lessons for pilots. Brought to you by AVEMCO aircraft insurance. Support Rob and Max by making a donation at Patreon.com The Learjet 55 departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport at night into a roughly 400-foot overcast. Newly released NTSB docket material shows the aircraft initially beginning its assigned right turn before slowly rolling left. The exceptionally gradual roll raises the possibility of somatogyral illusion—a form of spatial disorientation in which the inner ear may fail to detect slow rotational movement. Investigators also examined somatogravic illusion, cockpit workload, pitch trim, and the captain’s previous training history. Both engines appeared to be producing takeoff power, making an engine failure less likely. Max and Rob also discuss two wrong-runway landings near Chicago that illustrate continuation bias and task saturation. Other accidents include a Cirrus Vision Jet striking a pipe across a closed portion of a runway at Driggs, Idaho; a fatal Cessna 150 collision with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter; N1850N a Beechcraft Duchess accident during simulated single-engine training; and a photographer fatally struck by the wing of glider N8217W. Also, two wrong-runway landings near Chicago, N772MR (Envoy 3936) and N1128M Learjet 60. Those final incidents highlight a recurring human-factors problem: once pilots commit mentally to a plan, contradictory evidence can become surprisingly difficult to recognize.