Flight Safety Detectives

The NTSB report of the 1997 accident that killed singer John Denver is reexamined using artificial intelligence (AI) with some unexpected results.

Todd Curtis demonstrates how to use AI to examine accident investigations. Using Gemini Notebook, a free tool available to anyone with a Gmail account, Todd uploaded documents, web page links, and YouTube video links to analyze the accident information.

John Goglia, Greg Feith, and Todd discussed this accident in a 2022 Flight Safety Detectives episode, basing their analysis on information from the public docket and the accident report. Did AI uncover anything new? Listen and find out.

Todd’s message: AI is a great tool to supplement research. He offers ideas for how listeners may learn more about AI and experiment with using it.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Todd Curtis gives an expert overview of the September 2026 crash of a 21 Air 767 cargo aircraft in Miami. The aircraft landed almost halfway down the runway and crashed into two vehicles, killing five people in those vehicles.

Todd discusses the issues raised in the report and the facts of the incident, including the actions taken by the pilots during an unstable approach.

The investigation is not yet finished, but Todd highlights important aviation safety questions that need to be answered.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On 7/28/26 a Piper PA-28 reg. N9062J crashed shortly after takeoff in Chandler, AZ. John Goglia and Todd Curtis discuss the preliminary report.

In addition, John will talk about pre-planning for an engine failure event shortly after takeoff, when the airport’s surroundings provide limited emergency landing options.

Todd will talk about the effects of hot weather and elevated density altitude on engine and aircraft performance.

This episode is for pilots, mechanics, dispatchers, controllers, and aviation enthusiasts with an interest in factual air accident causes.

Would you like to experience more of the Flight Safety Detectives? Please consider becoming a member – we’d love to have you on board!

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On 8/20/26 a Cessna 441 reg. N128EZ crashed on approach to Cape Newenham, AK. John Goglia and Todd Curtis discuss the preliminary report.

In addition, John will talk about the challenges of flying in Alaska. Todd will discuss flying into an environment that combines challenging terrain and shifting weather.

Would you like experience more of the Flight Safety Detectives? Please consider becoming a member – we’d love to have you on board!

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On 7/10/26 a Cessna C-402C reg. C6-FLX crashed on approach to San Andros Airport in the Bahamas. John Goglia and Todd Curtis discuss the preliminary report.

Former NTSB Board Member Hon. John Goglia and aerospace engineer and aviation analyst Dr. Todd Curtis, dive into the known facts about this fatal accident as they are relayed in the preliminary report.

In addition, John will discuss his experience at the NTSB with operators - that like the operator of this flight – had multiple safety events in their operational history.

Todd will discuss the implications of operating an aircraft at an elevated density altitude.

Do you want to experience more of the Flight Safety Detectives? Please consider becoming a member
– we’d love to have you on board!

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On 5/14/26 at 3:45pm a Piper PA-28 reg. N7188W crashed into a residential home in Akron, OH. The Flight Safety Detectives discuss the preliminary report. John Goglia and Todd Curtis take a closer look the details shared in the NTSB’s preliminary report on the accident, as well the lessons that can be learned from this tragic event. Would you like to experience more of The Flight Safety Detectives? Please consider becoming a member – we’d love to have you on board!

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Todd Curtis and John Goglia take a closer look at the crash of a Fairchild SA227-TT in Blountville, Tennessee that killed NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki and others. They bring to light why this plane crash wasn't simply a story about bad weather.

On April 1, 1993, Kulwicki was flying to Tennessee to compete at Bristol Motor Speedway when the aircraft carrying him crashed during a night instrument approach. Kulwicki, the 1992 Winston Cup Champion, two other passengers, and the pilot were killed.

An air traffic controller watched the aircraft descend in a spiraling descent shortly before it crashed short of the runway. Investigators determined that the pilot had not followed the manufacturer's recommended procedures for operating in icing conditions.

Todd and John examine the chain of decisions and conditions that led to the loss of control. They document the weather conditions surrounding the flight, including the forecast for icing at 7,500 feet while the aircraft cruised at 7,000 feet. John discusses research from the 1990s demonstrating just how rapidly ice can accumulate on an aircraft.

They also explore a lesson that remains highly relevant to pilots today: weather information is never truly "live." Even modern in-flight weather systems have delays.

This tragic crash offers important lessons for pilots, aviation professionals. Anyone interested in understanding how seemingly manageable conditions can combine to create a deadly accident needs to watch this episode.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marine One. A departing passenger jet. A communications failure. And a safety system that didn’t work as intended.

What really happened on August 4, 2026, when President Trump’s Marine One helicopter departed the White House area at almost the same time an Envoy Air Embraer E170 was taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport?

In this episode of Flight Safety Detectives, Todd Curtis and John Goglia take a close look at the NTSB’s preliminary report and what it reveals about one of the most closely watched aviation incidents of the year.

Marine One flights are supposed to receive special handling: air traffic controllers should get a three-minute warning before the helicopter departs, allowing departing traffic at National Airport to be stopped. But on August 4, that warning never reached the controllers.

The result? Marine One and the regional jet were airborne in the same area at the same time.

Todd and John break down the communications failure, the unique challenges of operating around Reagan National, and why meeting the FAA’s minimum separation requirements isn't necessarily enough when special procedures are supposed to protect a presidential helicopter.

Todd also revisits several assumptions he and John made immediately after the incident. John brings a unique perspective from his years at the NTSB, explaining just how difficult it can be to manage the extraordinarily complex airspace around National Airport and why he believes more needs to be done to address the underlying safety challenges.

And there's an even bigger reason to pay attention: another Marine One communications problem occurred on August 27—just after the NTSB released its preliminary findings from the August 4 incident.

What does this second communications problem tell us about whether the underlying safety issues have really been fixed?

Watch this episode for Todd and John's detailed analysis of the NTSB findings, the communication breakdown, the challenges of protecting the airspace around Reagan National, and the lessons aviation safety professionals should take from this incident.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A fatal collision at Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania on August 19 raises important questions about what happened in the final seconds of two aircraft sharing the same airspace.

In this episode of Flight Safety Detectives, Todd Curtis and John Goglia examine the known facts surrounding the collision between a Cessna 150H and a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407GX helicopter. The crash killed the Cessna pilot and injured both occupants of the police helicopter.

The helicopter had completed its approach and was taxiing in a low hover just off the right side of the runway. Video of the accident sequence appears to show the Cessna pulling up sharply in the final seconds before the collision.

Todd and John carefully walk through what is known about the accident and what remains unknown. The NTSB investigation is still in its early stages, and the Flight Safety Detectives emphasize the importance of separating established facts from speculation.

What happened in those final moments? What information will investigators need to determine how the collision occurred? And what can—and can't—be concluded at this stage?

Watch as Todd and John break down the available facts while avoiding premature conclusions about the cause of the accident.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On March 22, 1992, a Fokker 28 aircraft operating USAir flight 405 crashed shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York, killing 25 of the 51 people who were on board the aircraft. John Goglia and Greg Feith meet with flight 405 survivor Bob Main for a powerful discussion.

Bob shares the remarkable story of his physical recovery—and the much longer, often overlooked journey that followed. He opens up about the psychological impact of surviving a catastrophic accident, as well as the challenges many survivors and their families face long after the wreckage is cleared.

From intense media attention and reliving traumatic experiences during legal proceedings that can stretch on for years, to making difficult personal and professional decisions, Bob provides a candid look at what it really means to survive an aviation accident.

John and Greg bring their own perspectives from the investigative side, drawing on their years at the NTSB and their careers in aviation safety. Together, they explore the human consequences of aviation accidents that aren't always captured in accident reports.

Bob published a book about his experiences in early 2026, reflecting on how the Flight 405 accident and everything that followed shaped the past 34 years of his life.

This is more than a story about surviving a plane crash. It's a powerful conversation about trauma, recovery, resilience, and what happens after the investigation ends.

Watch this important episode and subscribe to Flight Safety Detectives for in-depth conversations about aviation accidents, investigations, safety, and the lessons that can help prevent future tragedies.

Photo: Bob in the NY hospital the day after the crash. Credit: flight405survivorstory.com

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A passenger’s video reveals interesting details from the recent evacuation of a Delta 757 aircraft in Atlanta. John Goglia and Todd Curtis dissect the video with their deep understanding of aviation safety issues.

Two videos taken by passengers on board showed the professionalism of the flight crew and questionable choices by some passengers. Several people evacuated the aircraft with carry-on baggage. John and Todd discuss this long-standing issue in aviation and suggested that passengers plan their flight so that their most important items are always with them.

In other news, a Pan Am DC4 airliner that crashed in 1952 near San Juan, Puerto Rico was recently found. The plane crashed following an engine failure.

John discusses why budget issues and the fact that the Civil Aeronautics Board had already investigated this event would keep the NTSB from further investigating this accident. Hear whether this discovery might affect the chances of finding and recovering MH370.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just days ago, Marine One took off from the White House carrying President Trump while an airliner was taking off from nearby Reagan National Airport. This event highlights unresolved air space issues made apparent by the fatal midair collision involving a U.S. Army helicopter and a regional airliner.

The FAA is typically notified, and controllers clear the airspace for Marine One. John Goglia and Todd Curtis share what happened in this latest event. They discuss the significant safety issues involved. The issues raised after the recent fatal collision in the same airspace clearly still need action.

Also headlining this episode is the discovery of cracks found in 737 aircraft. The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive. The AD addresses structural issues with three models of the 737 and raises significant safety concerns about these aircraft.

In July, the crew of a British Airways A320 overcame serious flight control issues shortly before landing at Heathrow Airport in London. The crew experienced two stall warnings in flight. This incident raises serious safety issues for this computer-controlled aircraft.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When is an aircraft truly airworthy? The answer is more complicated—and more important—than most pilots and aviation professionals realize.

Aviation safety experts Todd Curtis and John Goglia are joined by aviation attorney Sarah MacLeod and certification expert Mike Borfitz for a fascinating discussion about what airworthiness really means. Is an airplane airworthy simply because it matches an approved design, or does it also have to be safe to fly today?

The panel dives into real-world aviation issues that affect pilots, mechanics, maintenance managers, manufacturers, and regulators every day:

• The difference between regulatory conformity and operational safety
• How maintenance records and paperwork omissions can change critical decisions
• Why organizational pressure can lead to unsafe outcomes
• The role of tolerances, imperfections, and human judgment in aviation maintenance
• Who is accountable when something doesn’t look right
• Why new aviation professionals must learn to speak up, ask questions, and report mistakes

Todd also shares a revealing story from his flying club that demonstrates why every pilot should have access to maintenance information before accepting an aircraft.

Watch now to hear four aviation experts tackle one of the industry’s most misunderstood safety questions—and learn the habits that help keep aircraft, crews, and passengers safe.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Greg Feith, John Goglia, and Todd Curtis, along with returning guest Mike Borfitz dig into the developing facts emerging related to the recent 737 crash in the northern Arabian Sea. As the wreckage is recovered, the Flight Safety Detectives are keen to learn about the plane’s history and maintenance records.

They also discuss a recent incident that appears to be a suicide. A flight instructor exited a Cessna 150 midflight, leaving his student to land the aircraft. The discussion focuses on pilot mental health and related legislation that is slowly working its way through Congress.

Previous FSD mental health episodes:

• Episode 239: Anxiety in Flight Turns Deadly
• Episode 274: John Goglia Costars in Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehersal” on HBO
• Episode 307: Xyla Foxlin on Pilot Mental Health

The discussion also covers engineering and maintenance careers in aviation. Mike’s engineering career includes work at Boeing and the FAA. Both Mike and John share experiences that made them knowledgeable about aviation and the roles they could play. Todd is also an engineer who has worked on the operational and manufacturing sides of aviation.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Todd Curtis and John Goglia interview Rohan Guskin an aviation enthusiast whose experiences defy his young age. Guskin started flying at age 14 and is now 16. He is still too young to qualify for a pilot’s license but that has not stopped him from pursuing his passions.

Guskin’s experiences inside and outside the cockpit include an ambitious cross-country flight that took him and his instructor from the San Francisco Bay area, down the California coast, and over the ocean to Catalina Island. He describes the detailed preflight planning and the challenges he encountered during the flight.

John and Todd examine with him a study he is conducting of air traffic separation of IFR and VFR aircraft around several California airports. Guskin has also shared his insights with a statewide association of pilots.

Listen as they discuss the broader aviation community and the AIAA AVIATION 2026 conference, which took place in San Diego in June 2026. Next year, after Guskin graduates from high school, he aspires to earn an aerospace engineering degree and become an aviation professional.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A cargo Boeing 737 plunges into the Arabian Sea. A seaplane crashes near Manhattan but everyone survives. And an executive jet narrowly misses an unidentified silver object at 16,000 feet.

In this episode of Flight Safety Detectives, aviation safety experts John Goglia and Todd Curtis examine three recent aviation events and explain what they reveal about today's aviation safety challenges.

The episode begins with the tragic crash of a K2 Airways Boeing 737-400 cargo aircraft that departed Sharjah, UAE, bound for Karachi, Pakistan. The airplane entered a steep dive and crashed into the Arabian Sea, killing all five people on board.

John reviews the aircraft's long operational history—including its years flying for Aeroflot—and discusses how the aircraft's age, cargo operation, and the limited public attention to the accident could affect the investigation and what we ultimately learn from it.

John and Todd then turn to the July accident involving a Kodiak 100 seaplane operating near Manhattan. The aircraft suffered a hard landing that appeared to collapse one of its floats. Everyone on board survived without serious injury.

Todd analyzes passenger video from the accident, highlighting what it reveals about the forces involved, the importance of floatplane emergency preparedness, and why several passengers appeared unsure where to locate their personal flotation devices.

The episode concludes with a discussion of a mysterious near miss involving an executive jet flying near New York that encountered an unidentified silver object at approximately 16,000 feet. Todd highlights the need for additional information and what questions investigators still need to answer.

Join John and Todd as they separate facts from speculation, explore what investigators know so far, and explain the aviation safety lessons emerging from these recent events.

✈️ Subscribe for expert analysis of aviation accidents, incidents, and the safety issues affecting pilots, airlines, mechanics, and passengers worldwide.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A routine flight turned into a tragedy that raises difficult questions about pilot decision-making, flight school oversight, and the risks of night flying.

In this episode of Flight Safety Detectives, Greg Feith, John Goglia, and Todd Curtis examine the fatal June 2026 crash that claimed the life of a newly certificated private pilot and two passengers. Using available ADS-B flight data and their decades of aviation safety experience, they explore the unusual sequence of events including multiple touch-and-go landings in Ocean City, New Jersey, a climb to nearly 9,000 feet, unexplained changes in speed, and a crash just miles from the intended destination.

Could the touch-and-go landings have been an attempt to meet FAA night passenger currency requirements? Was another aircraft from the same flight school flying alongside the accident airplane? What role, if any, did the flight school's practices play in this tragedy?

The hosts carefully separate facts from speculation while highlighting the critical questions investigators should answer. Their discussion provides valuable insight into how experienced accident investigators analyze incomplete evidence and why understanding the "why" behind an accident is essential to improving aviation safety.

This episode offers a thoughtful, evidence-based look at a heartbreaking event and the lessons that may emerge from it.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Goglia and Todd Curtis went live on June 22 to answer listener questions and give to-the-moment updates on several recent aviation safety events.

They cover several recent misadventures:

• A near miss at Boston’s Logan airport involving American Airlines and Delta aircraft.
• A skydiving crash in Missouri
• The crash of a NetJets Cessna 688 that was flying to Auston Texas

John and Todd offer the known details and share what may have gone wrong in each incident.

They also offer the latest information coming out of the investigation of the accident at LaGuardia airport. They go on to answer several listener questions.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What can NASA safety reports tell us about the state of aviation after the pandemic? In this episode of Flight Safety Detectives, former NTSB Board Member John Goglia and aviation safety analyst Todd Curtis dive into recent trends in NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), examining how reporting levels for Part 121 and Part 135 operators changed during and after the pandemic.

John and Todd also discuss the fatal June 7, 2026 crash of a Gulfstream G200 in the Dominican Republic. They explore how the investigation may unfold under Dominican authorities and explain why the resources available to an investigative agency don't necessarily determine the quality of the final findings.

The episode concludes with a deep dive into a 2023 fuel exhaustion accident involving a Cessna 172. After reviewing the NTSB Public Docket, John and Todd found critical background information that never made it into the final report. Their analysis highlights how additional details—including the pilot's recent passengers and the aircraft's possible weight at the time of the accident—can provide important context when evaluating pilot decisions and accident outcomes.

Don't miss this detailed discussion of accident investigations, safety reporting trends, and the lessons hidden in the details of aviation accident records.

Become a member for new episodes every week and join the conversation about improving aviation safety worldwide.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Goglia and Todd Curtis examine an all-too-common aviation incident: fuel exhaustion.

Two pilots recently took off on a training flight that would start after midnight and end before dawn. They planned 10 takeoffs and landings at a towered airport, a 100-nautical-mile cross-country flight, refueling, and waiting until sunrise to practice additional maneuvers.

Unfortunately, they ran out of fuel short of the refueling stop and had to dodge wind turbines and power lines to safely land on a road. Because there were no damage or injuries, no report was published by the FAA or NTSB.

However, the incident was reported to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). John and Todd use that information to examine what happened and point out that they may have created avoidable dangers by planning to perform a challenging set of tasks for a single flight.

This episode also demonstrates how to use the ASRS to learn from those who submit reports, including events that could have ended in disaster. This episode could help you avoid this and other common aviation safety issues.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com.

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.