In this densely packed episode of NTSB News Talk, Max Trescott and Rob Mark discuss several major aviation accidents—ranging from high-profile international crashes to domestic general aviation incidents—emphasizing a recurring theme: loss of control due to distraction, poor decision-making, or misinterpretation of situational cues.

The show opens with breaking news: a catastrophic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff, killing 240 of the 241 people on board. Notably, this is the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner since its certification. Speculation online points to configuration errors—photos show the gear was down and the flaps were up only seconds after liftoff. The aircraft hit a building a mile from the runway, raising concerns about takeoff mismanagement and checklist failures.

Max and Rob pivot to two significant upcoming NTSB hearings: the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 door plug blowout and the tragic midair collision between an American regional jet and an Army Blackhawk helicopter near Washington National Airport. Both hearings promise new details and will be livestreamed.

Next, they cover a dramatic crash involving a twin-engine Cessna 414 that departed San Diego’s busy Lindbergh Field and spiraled into the ocean. The ADS-B data showed erratic climbs, rapid descents (up to 10,000 feet per minute), and multiple full-circle turns. The pilot seemed confused about altitude assignments and configuration changes. Rob and Max speculate possible vacuum failure, misinterpretation of ATC instructions (e.g., mishearing “13,000” as “1,300”), or general lack of proficiency. They reference the previous day’s flight, captured by VASAviation, which revealed a series of small pilot errors including wrong altitudes, incorrect intercepts, and a runway incursion during taxi—painting a broader picture of degraded situational awareness.

Attention turns to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s preliminary report on the Endeavor Air CRJ-900 accident in Toronto. The aircraft landed in gusty crosswinds and crashed when the right main gear collapsed, resulting in a fiery rollover. Max details how the pilot flying likely reduced power too early in response to being five knots fast. That created a dangerous sink rate—exceeding 1,100 feet per minute just seconds before touchdown. Rob emphasizes how turbine aircraft handle differently from piston aircraft and questions whether the pilot’s limited experience (just over 1,400 hours) played a role. Remarkably, all passengers survived, a testament to fast-responding fire crews and luck.

The duo then examines a runway incursion at Chicago Midway, where a Flexjet Challenger taxied across an active runway just as a Southwest 737 was on short final. Airport surveillance video captured the close call. Fortunately, the Southwest crew initiated a go-around. Rob, based in Chicago, breaks down the confusing taxi route and notes that pilots had already read back one set of incorrect instructions earlier. Max stresses how helpful moving maps are for taxi navigation—especially at night or in unfamiliar airports.

Lastly, the hosts dissect a

In this episode of NTSB News Talk, hosts Max Trescott and Rob Mark explore a series of recent general aviation accidents that underscore persistent issues around loss of control, distraction, weather misjudgment, and pilot training. The discussion is framed around several preliminary NTSB reports, each presenting scenarios where pilots encountered challenging situations and, in many cases, failed to maintain control of their aircraft.

They begin with the crash of a Rockwell Commander 114A in Hankamer, Texas. The pilot had taken his grandson on a pleasure flight from Baytown. ADS-B data showed casual maneuvering followed by a rapid, unexplained descent from 4,200 feet, with rates as high as 14,000 feet per minute and speeds over 200 knots. While weather data is incomplete, Max and Rob suspect the pilot may have been attempting to descend through a break in the clouds—leading to a spatial disorientation or loss of control scenario.

The conversation then moves to a fatal Piper Lance crash in Florida, caused by an unsecured nose baggage door. Surveillance video shows the door flapping open just after takeoff, and investigators found spilled contents—aviation oil and dog food—on the runway. Just 10 seconds later, the aircraft impacted the ground. Rob and Max explain that while such a distraction can be startling, it shouldn’t lead to a crash. Pilots need to remain calm and continue flying, especially during the critical initial climb phase.

A Saratoga crash, also in Florida, occurred during a night takeoff from Venice. Four people were killed. Max identifies the likely culprit: somatogravic illusion, in which acceleration during takeoff is misinterpreted by the brain as a climb. If no visual references are available—such as over water or on a moonless night—pilots may mistakenly push the nose down, leading to fatal descent. Rob emphasizes that night VFR can be as risky as IFR and urges pilots to brief night flights as if they're instrument flights. Max adds that despite being legal, flying in dark night conditions without an instrument rating is “crazy.”

Next is a Cessna 180 crash in Illinois. The aircraft departed during the day but returned amid mist and rain. The pilot, who lacked an instrument rating, hit wires and crashed, killing four. This highlights the risk of flying VFR into IMC and the human tendency to assume return conditions will mirror those from the outbound flight—a dangerous assumption in a dynamic weather environment.

The final accident involves a Cessna 177RG Cardinal in California. The pilot, who was in the traffic pattern for Grass Valley Airport, reported engine failure just before turning base. The aircraft crashed inverted near a road, just short of the runway. Rob stresses this was a basic emergency pilots are trained for—power-off landings—and wonders if other factors, such as distraction from a passenger, played a role. Max notes that today's busy traffic patterns make it difficult to practice power-off landings, though they remain a valuable skill.

The conversation broadens into general safety themes. Max recalls how his early flight training focused on always landing power-off, and he encourages pilots to train under varied conditions to remain sharp. Rob warns that many pilots shy away from training maneuvers for fear of damaging their engines, but believes this hesitancy erodes skills.

They also touch on

Max Trescott and Rob Mark launch the first episode of NTSB News Talk, diving into NTSB agency news, recent accidents and newly published NTSB reports to help pilots better understand accident causes and improve decision-making in the cockpit.

They begin with a surprising administrative shake-up: the unexplained termination of NTSB Vice Chairman Alvin Brown. Rob questions the lack of transparency, pointing out how an independent agency like the NTSB should not be subject to political scapegoating without clear justification. Max brings up that the NTSB is hiring.

Next, they turn to cockpit video recorders—a long-recommended safety item by the NTSB. While commercial pilots and unions resist them on privacy grounds, Max and Rob argue that video can play a vital role in understanding pilot behavior and causes of crashes, especially in general aviation where data is often limited. Rob references Matt Thurber’s editorial advocating for video recorders and highlights tools like CloudAhoy that already allow post-flight review.

The hosts then discuss several accidents. One involved a Cessna 207 in Alaska that crashed during a go-around, possibly due to a dog on the runway. They examine when it’s safer to land versus abort, and why go-around procedures—rarely practiced—are often poorly executed, even by experienced pilots.

Two Citabria crashes raise density altitude concerns. One near Big Creek, Idaho, ended with no survivors; the other, in Wyoming, occurred during a flight to spread ashes. A partial engine power loss, high terrain, and low climb capability proved fatal. Both hosts emphasize how critical it is for instructors to teach performance limitations in high-elevation operations, especially in underpowered aircraft.

Max talked about a Fireboss firefighting seaplane that ditched in the Atlantic, killing the pilot, while on a ferry flight to the Azores. He mentioned that experience ferry pilot Sarah Rovner talked in detail about ferry piloting issues in episode 379 of the Aviation News Talk podcast.

Another incident highlights poor weather decision-making. A Piper PA-28 crashed near Mount Equinox, Vermont after entering icing conditions in IMC. The non-instrument-rated pilot, traveling with family on a ski trip, stalled and crash-landed. The hosts explain how "get-there-itis" and poor weather avoidance can prove fatal, and caution against pressing on in marginal conditions—especially with passengers aboard.

The episode's deep dive analyzes the fatal accident of N611VG, a Citation 560 over Virginia. The pilot lost cabin pressure at high altitude and became incapacitated due to insufficient supplemental oxygen. The aircraft, operating Part 91, had numerous maintenance discrepancies—including an empty oxygen bottle and neglected...