Max talks with Rob Mark about the latest NTSB cases and safety lessons for pilots. They begin with new details on the B-52 near miss at Minot, North Dakota, where the bomber nearly collided with both a regional jet and a Piper Archer. The tower controller, working alone without radar support, became overwhelmed and failed to advise the B-52 crew of conflicting traffic. At one point, he even issued incorrect altitude and heading clearances. Though everyone avoided contact, the case illustrates that controllers can—and do—make mistakes, making pilot vigilance essential.

Attention then turns to a fatal midair collision in Fort Morgan, Colorado, where a Cessna 172 on a straight-in approach collided with an Extra 300 turning base just after an aerobatic contest. Because of their high- and low-wing configurations, each aircraft was hidden in the other’s blind spot. The accident underscores the importance of CTAF communication, traffic scanning, and using a second radio to monitor the local frequency even while on IFR clearances.

Rob next reports on a Cessna 172 from San Jose’s Reid-Hillview Airport whose pilot declared jammed flight controls. Another pilot attempted to assist in the air, but the aircraft ultimately crashed. The case recalls earlier accidents where loose objects, like portable GPS antennas, jammed control linkages.

The episode also examines student pilot tragedies. In Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, a young student turned crosswind too soon at low altitude and struck trees. In New Jersey, a 61-year-old student in a Cirrus SR20 succumbed to somatogravic illusion, leveling off at night and descending into terrain after takeoff. Both highlight the risks of solo flight without CFI oversight and the dangers of night solos.

Further cases include a Cessna 152 overrun at night in Kansas with a pilot who fled the scene, a T-6 Texan stall/spin at Oshkosh caused by low-speed maneuvering, and a Cessna 206 crash in Alaska where water-contaminated fuel led to an engine failure.

Throughout the discussion, Max and Rob emphasize recurring themes: respect stall speeds and G-loading, always sump fuel, avoid complacency with ATC instructions, and never assume other pilots are on frequency. Their message is clear—aviation safety depends on every pilot maintaining situational awareness, discipline, and respect for physics.

In Episode 10 of NTSB News Talk, aviation safety experts Max Trescott and Rob Mark examine recent accident reports that reinforce why loss of control in flight continues to be the number one cause of fatalities in general aviation. Drawing from official NTSB accident reports and preliminary findings, they analyze crashes involving a TBM turboprop in Montana, a Beechcraft King Air in Arizona, and other cases where night flying illusions and equipment failures played a decisive role.

Rob begins with an August accident in Kalispell, Montana, where a TBM turboprop attempted to land at the city airport. Witnesses said the aircraft touched down near the approach end of the runway before veering into parked planes, sparking a fire. Incredibly, all four occupants survived with only minor injuries. Though details are still sparse, the incident highlights how quickly loss of control can occur even in a high-performance single-engine turboprop.

Max and Rob stress that while the TBM is an advanced and capable aircraft, any landing can go wrong if the pilot mismanages energy or fails to stabilize the approach. This accident serves as a reminder that precision, discipline, and preparation remain critical during the landing phase, when the margin for error is smallest.

The hosts then turn to a tragic August 5th accident involving a Beechcraft King Air 300 on the Navajo Nation in eastern Arizona. The aircraft was inbound on a medical transport flight, but before picking up its patient it crashed near the single runway at Chinle Municipal Airport. All four aboard—two pilots and two healthcare providers—were killed.

Conditions that day created a perfect storm: a density altitude of over 8,400 feet combined with gusty crosswinds approaching 28 knots, nearly 90 degrees to the runway. The demonstrated crosswind limit for the King Air 300 is 20 knots, but as Rob explains, that number is not a hard limitation—it simply reflects the strongest crosswind tested during certification. What really matters is pilot proficiency.

The Chinle crash underscores the dangers of trying to land in challenging conditions when performance margins are already compromised by high elevation and high temperature. For many pilots, especially those not flying crosswind landings regularly, the combination can quickly exceed skill level and lead to loss of control.

Rob next covers a preliminary report on a Cessna Conquest II that departed Youngstown, Ohio, en route to Bozeman, Montana. Security video showed the aircraft lifting off after a normal ground roll, but instead of climbing, it leveled off at just 100 feet and maintained that altitude until impacting trees. Both engines were reportedly running, making the lack of climb especially puzzling.

Witnesses described unusual engine sounds, but Max and Rob note that eyewitness accounts are often unreliable. The bigger mystery is why the pilot failed to climb, despite having ample power available. Possible scenarios include distraction, incapacitation, or improper handling of the aircraft. As Max points out, 80 percent of accidents are linked to human error, and this crash may ultimately fall into that category.

Max then shares insights into a

On this episode of NTSB News Talk, Max Trescott covers the third and final day of the NTSB’s investigative hearing into the January 2024 midair collision near Washington’s Reagan National Airport between a PSA Airlines CRJ-700 and a U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk. Day 3 featured Panel 4: Collision Avoidance Technology and Panel 5: Safety Data and Safety Management Systems.

The hearing opened with spatial disorientation testimony and interviews with Army pilots about Route 4 altitude protections they incorrectly believed would keep them clear of Runway 33 arrivals. NASA’s Dr. Stephen Casner explained that cockpit traffic displays can help pilots spot targets up to eight times faster than by visual scan alone.

Experts detailed ADS-B system complexities — including the two incompatible broadcast frequencies (UAT and 1090ES) — and reviewed the limits of pre-ADS-B collision avoidance technology. The UH-60L Black Hawk lacks integrated traffic displays, relying instead on iPads with Stratus receivers, which Army policy prohibits the flying pilot from using. Portable ADS-B In devices provide only partial traffic pictures unless paired with ADS-B Out, limiting situational awareness.

Discussions turned to TCAS: its nuisance alert problem, differences for helicopter operations, and why the CRJ-700 lacks a certified ADS-B In solution. The NTSB Chairwoman confronted the FAA over its 17-year refusal to mandate ADS-B In, despite repeated post-collision recommendations. The Army is now procuring 1,685 Stratus/iPad sets for priority units, but operational use will still be limited at low level.

FAA data revealed 366 TCAS resolution advisories within 10 nm of DCA from 2023–2025. Testimony noted that crews involved in RAs are typically not notified unless a deviation occurs. Panelists debated safety culture, just culture, and leadership removals at DCA Tower after the accident. A controller supervisor described the pre-accident culture as “robust,” but post-accident changes removed key institutional knowledge.

The hearing also exposed gaps in PSA pilot special-qualification training for DCA — including no information on helicopter routes or operations — and examined simulator results showing that circling to Runway 33 can double or triple pilot workload compared to a straight-in to Runway 1.

Closing testimony on future ACAS XR technology indicated it could have alerted the Black Hawk crew 73 seconds before impact, with potential nationwide deployment by 2027. Max weaves these details into a narrative showing how technological shortfalls, flawed assumptions, procedural gaps, and cultural challenges all converged in this tragic midair — and what reforms could prevent a repeat.

NTSB Docket on Reagan National midair collision

Check out our other Aviation News Talk Network podcasts:

UAV News Talk Podcast

Rotary Wing Show Podcast

Aviation News Talk