Air India crash, Miracle in Toronto, N414BA San Diego crash and more accidents

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 fatal Robinson R44 helicopter crash involving a student pilot near Miami, Texas. The pilot, flying solo on a cross-country, called a contact en route to express concern about fog. A witness on the ground said the helicopter looked unstable in low visibility conditions. There’s no record the pilot obtained a weather briefing. Rob questions whether the instructor should’ve proactively grounded the flight given poor weather. Max, drawing from his own training in the R44, emphasizes how most Robinson helicopters lack autopilots and are prohibited from entering IMC. Even pilots with instrument ratings often have no real cloud experience in helicopters, making VFR into IMC particularly deadly.

Throughout the episode, Rob and Max reinforce several key lessons:

• Always verify what you hear from ATC—and trust your instincts if something seems off.
• Monitor sink rates and power settings, especially in gusty or unfamiliar landing conditions. 
• Don’t ignore small errors; a string of minor issues can add up to major consequences.
• Moving maps and situational awareness tools can prevent runway incursions.
• Instructors have a moral obligation to monitor solo students—especially in marginal weather.

The hosts close by encouraging pilots to treat every flight with focus and humility, reminding us that no matter how advanced the aircraft, it’s still up to the pilot to fly the plane.