Ten Plane Crashes that Changed Aviation (Article)

Great article. Its so interesting to see that each incident gave birth to new technology and new regulations. Its unfortunate that life had to be lost. It would be nice to see technology predict the next problem before it actually happens.
 
Anyone remember the accident that made probes and windshield heat a weight-off-wheels/auto-on function?
 
What people don't realize about the Aloha incident is that it showed safety feature that is built into every airliner. It's called rip-stop technology. If the skin of the plane does rip away, it's designed to stop so the whole plane doesn't unravel.
 
SeanD said:
Great article. Its so interesting to see that each incident gave birth to new technology and new regulations. Its unfortunate that life had to be lost. It would be nice to see technology predict the next problem before it actually happens.
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Note that on most of those, the NTSB had already recomended a change, but it took a fatal crash to get the FAA to move.

Shows you where their prioities are.
 
The problem with any federal agency is whenever anyone tries to make a major change in policy or try to change anything period they're shown the door.

The latest example is the head of the National Hurricane Center. As soon as he got in, he took an inventory of what they had and needed. He found out that their primary hurricane tracking satellite was on its last legs and tried to get funding for a new one. Unfortunately, he rubbed some people the wrong way and was fired.
 
The part about DAL 191 in DFW is completely inaccurate. Predictive Windshear systems were not mandated and very few airplanes are equipped with it. Crews still make approaches and departures in thunderstorms and there have been windshear/thunderstorm accidents since DAL 191. Probably the most significant thing that came out of that accident was windshear escape training. That has prevented many accidents.
 
SeanD said:
Great article. Its so interesting to see that each incident gave birth to new technology and new regulations. Its unfortunate that life had to be lost. It would be nice to see technology predict the next problem before it actually happens.
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Actually the fact that there have been accidents doesn't suggest that other accidents haven't been prevented by all the careful design work and flight testing that is part of every certification. That's one of the reasons this is such a safe industry. It is possible to have zero accidents in aviation. But it involves parking every airplane in the desert for good.
 
flyover said:
Actually the fact that there have been accidents doesn't suggest that other accidents haven't been prevented by all the careful design work and flight testing that is part of every certification. That's one of the reasons this is such a safe industry. It is possible to have zero accidents in aviation. But it involves parking every airplane in the desert for good.
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That why I laugh when I hear "Safety is number 1," then park the planes.

Safety is all about risk management. Is the risk worth the reward. Every time you fly you have a price tag on you.
 
There is always a degree of acceptable risk when flying. As pilots we don't know for sure that the airplane is maintained properly. We look in the logbooks and see whatever inspection was done on whatever date and that is sufficient. From airline pilots to newly certified private pilots putzing around in a 152, pilots operate under the assumption things were done properly by mx as well as the manufacturer. Plus manufacturers, NTSB, and the FAA can attempt to make things completly safe.....however there is always someone out there that will figure out a way (accidentally) to crash it. NOTHING IS ACCIDENT PROOF...in ANY industry. Its all about minimizing accidents to the greatest extent possible and increasing survivability when they do occur.
 
A somewhat accurate, but otherwise politically correct, mediocre article at best. They chose ten, and another ten could have been chosen also.

TWA 800? Swiss Air 111- Huh????

Aloha 243?

Didn't we learn about Aloha 243 decades before?

Was it not the crashes of the Comet that taught us about metal fatigue and actually led the way to modern crash investigation techniques?

What about Eastern 401, along with Pan Am 1736 / KLM 4805 at Tenerife?

If I had to choose 10, I would make a few substitutions.

Of course, we learned nothing from AA 587, as they just blamed that on the FO. Then again, Marion Blakey was in charge of the NTSB at the time, so that came as no surprise.:banghead:
 
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