Accident Case Study: Conflict in the Cockpit

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It’s July 26, 2021, and the crew’s first time flying together on the Bombardier Challenger 605. The initial portion of the planned flight from Idaho’s Pappy Boyington Field in Coeur d’Alene to Truckee Tahoe Airport in California is uneventful and does not allude to the troubling tension eventually building between the first officer and his younger captain.

Join the AOPA Air Safety Institute as we examine the circumstances that led to the tragic outcome just seconds before landing at Truckee Tahoe Airport. We look at crew dynamics during the flight and improper energy management during the circling approach to the airport.

The Accident Case Study series uses FAA ATC radio communication transcripts, NTSB documentation, and video animation to recreate accidents and share critical lessons, so we can recognize and avoid similar mistakes.

Learn more:

An NTSB safety alert warns that circling-to-land approaches can be riskier than other approaches because they often require maneuvering at low altitude and low airspeed during the final segment of the approach, increasing the opportunity for loss of control or collisions with terrain.

This inherent risk is even more pronounced in larger, faster airplanes, when energy management is essential. The FAA’s Instrument Procedures Handbook urges caution when attempting a circle-to-land maneuver, especially for category C aircraft as the maneuvers are often conducted with precipitation affecting visibility, depth perception, and the ability to adequately assess the decent profile. It warns that circling approaches conducted at faster-than-normal, straight-in approach speeds require pilots to consider a larger circling approach area.

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[nickjames]

More case studies please! Actual production quality and by far the best of many aviation and plane crash channels. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

[Darkvirgoxx]

I'm glad air safety did this video. Listening to the radio traffic you would have never picked up on the conflict in the cockpit. This paints a much more complete picture of the incident.

[TheWalachecman]

Thank you for keeping this series alive. RIP Richard

[inspector]

I really, really like the accident case studies. This one just about turned my stomach. I've flown with guys like these, and I'm done with that. Nothing is worth that.

[michaelrichter]

I think the first officer attitude contributed a huge amount on the accident. Even though he knows he’s the more experienced pilot, he should’ve tried to help the captain and don’t put free stress on him. It’s seems to me he was always trying to humiliate him.

[BeyBoy]

Wow, unbelievable. An accident was bound to happen with this type of cockpit dynamic. The FO was essentially trying to assert control the entire time, and successfully did so. The Captain’s lack of awareness during the hold & the approach clearly shows that his psychological bucket was full from stress. To me, it sounds like the FO’s attitude was a major contributor in this accident. I’m baffled by how uncooperative the Fo was, he was trying to dominate instead of support the new Capt. Would’ve been nice if this video dove more in to the perspectives of each pilot & used it to teach about personality, emotions & control.

[valberlin]

Get-there-itis is unforgivable. Ego and pride are even more so.

[websherp]

Captain is incompetent and FO is antagonistic, yikes

[paulbrunner]

I like the attention to detail in this video. You even showed the Burning Man site on their flight path!

[MrZloodie]

Accident case studies are top notch, always get excited when I see a new one uploaded!!!

[jonasbaine]

It’s just as shocking watching it a second time!

[jimsmith]

We appreciate your patience and understanding. We appreciate your videos.

[maka]

Thank you for the fix! Please give us more accident case studies though. My dad and I love these!

[anna_in_aotearoa]

As always, the lessons from these incidents are applicable far outside the air industry!Allowing ego & interpersonal conflict to impede one's professional judgement and to degrade one's teamwork always leads to major problems, and depending on context, actual danger. Ditto not having the humility & self-awareness to accept when we're out of our depth and seek help...

Staying professional & not losing good judgement in a situation of active bullying can be extremely difficult, so I do feel for the captain here. Altogether a very sad incident, & I very much hope it led to a major overhaul of company personnel management & CRM training. RIP to the poor passengers caught in a toxic situation completely unawares! 😔

[johnkeith]

"We don't want to be on the news"

[Heyuher]

Your conclusion is SO important in any leadership situation or relationship!

[matthendricks]

Being a pilot myself I must say that there is nothing worse than a co-pilot that is not a teamplayer. Sometimes we have a bad day, and sometimes the other guy has a bad day. And every single pilot is absolutely in need of help of a good teamplayer at his/her side. But this first officer diminished flight safety every single time he opened his mouth.

[CyberSystemOverload]

Right up there with some of the most unprofessional crews. Astounding. What the Captain SHOULD have done is ask for a hold well before to gather his thoughts and do a proper brief. Passengers put their trust in the 2 people up front .We all do every single time we step on an airliner. These two betrayed not just that trust but threw out all their training. It shows no one is safe from the accident chain no matter how many hours you have. You have to stay on point. No one cares if you flew to the moon. What matters is the next flight. Excellent video, the production quality is top tier.

[jjam]

How could he be made captain without knowing how you use the flight computer?

[mebeingU]

Cockpit controls at 40, 000 feet is no place for ego boxing. Neither will have to worry about who is a more accomplished pilot again.