Two high-profile accidents last year got me thinking about how pilots handle the risks of flying. Both involved 1980’s vintage Citations. Both were flown essentially single-pilot and in weather. And while it’s sometimes unfair to “Monday morning quarterback,” it’s easy to question the decision-making processes that killed a total of thirteen people in these accidents. The investigations are just beginning, and my comments are certainly subject to change, but here’s what we think we know.
The first accident occurred on May 22nd. The owner-pilot and five passengers departed Teterboro, New Jersey (KTEB) around 11 pm after attending a rock concert. Up front in the right seat, a passenger posted a picture of the departure. The PIC flew non-stop to James Jabara (KAAO) near Wichita, KS, landing at 2:36 am CDT and did a quick turn. Then on to Montgomery-Gibbs airport (KMYF) near San Diego.He began his approach to his home airport around 5:45 am CDT after working his day job and flying for 6.5 hours across the entire country. We call this a single-pilot “all-nighter.”
The weather in San Diego was awful, with very low ceilings and visibility at ½ mile. The airport was unattended with no current weather reporting. NOTAMS in effect advised that the Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (RAI) were out of service and had been so since March of 2022. The aircraft hit electrical power lines 1.8 miles short of the runway.
All six aboard perished, and eight people on the ground received minor injuries. Substantial damage to houses and cars at the crash site was visible.
The second accident involved NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his family.
They departed Statesville, NC (KSVH) on December 18th in deteriorating weather and reportedly without an IFR clearance.
METAR KSVH 181535Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM +RA SCT004 OVC010 06/04 A3019 RMK AO2 P0001 T00550035
METAR KSVH 181515Z AUTO 00000KT 5SM +DZ BKN012 BKN022 OVC050 07/01 A3019 RMK AO2 T00720010
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot discussed problems with his flight instruments. Scud-running, they initiated a return for landing, never making contact with departure control. Just short of the runway, in heavy mist, they hit trees and approach lights.
All seven abord perished, including Biffle’s two very young children.
My takeaway: We need to stop killing innocent people in airplanes.
When our passengers get in a car with us, they have a pretty good understanding of the risk involved. They probably have driven the car. But many of the passengers in these two accidents were likely just along for the ride.
They had no idea.
No idea of the pilot’s qualifications, his fitness for flight, or his knowledge of the airplane. Both of these Citations, while “state of the art” in the 80’s, were filled with decades-old avionics. At best, they are a handful to fly competently.
When we “burn the candle at both ends” and fly all night or blast off into bad weather without a sound plan, we are asking our passengers to incur the risks.
Is that fair?
Fly safe.
