The REAL Pilot Mistake That Got Viktoria Killed!

Viktoria was a new flight instructor and unfortunately made a tragic pilot mistake that resulted in her death. However, her student and another person on the plane managed to survive.

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#aviation #flying #pilotdebrief

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[mikewood]

Ex instructor from the UK here, on the first flight experience flight there was no contact on the controls from the student until the aircraft was at cruise height (and properly trimmed) and then primarily to indicate how sensitive the controls were. At height any tendency towards ham-fistedness can be easily dealt with.

[SnySnickers]

Hoover is so respectful of the families. He doesn't bother with the like and subscribe bs. He seems like a genuinely good man. Thank you for your service and content, Hoover!

[yoyojoe]

I remember my very first Flight lesson. (1983) My instructor said to me. "You look, listen and I do, when we start rolling, you will touch the controls I teach you with One finger of each hand when I tell you to". We took off, flew straight to the practice area. (Me following his pointers) Then we flew back to the Airport, landed. (Me, touching controls with just One finger) When we finished the flight and shut down the engine, his first question was; "Did you noticed what little to none the energy needed to operate the control(?) and the reaction of the then I understood the reason of that first Lesson. ( I Soloed at my 10hr) Now 66, still flying, never had any Incidents).

[DoWork]

Don’t know if you will see this sir.

I really appreciate these debriefs. My wife and I watch them regularly. For background my wife is a fixed wing pvt pilot lic. I am a helo pilot w/lic. I also am former military with a couple forced /hard landings, 1 in combat.

I still love to fly in helo’s.

I really appreciate the way you approach and deliver these debriefs. The respect you show to the families in fatal accidents and the professionalism you demonstrate in verbiage.

Its noticed and appreciated.

I actually recommend your channel to friends who are nervous flyers because I believe knowledge is power. It has served all of them well.

Keep doing what you do!

Bravo Zulu 🇺🇸

[bills]

It still baffles me that you can be a CFI when you yourself are still relatively new to flying.

[Eagle]

As a former member of the Rocketeers (336), and now an owner of a flight school in TN, I find your presentation of the data very concise and thoughtful. I always pass your vids to my instructors and their students. Keep up the great work Hoover! “Digger” 🦅

[Kalense]

I think Viktoria's first mistake was to have someone who had never been in a plane before have the controls for takeoff. That just seems not a good idea. For his first flight he should just sit there and watch and get used to being airborne. Maybe touch the controls when the plane is flying straight and level at altitude, but only for a minute or two. Having him take the plane off the ground? Hmm.

[DuckLord]

Early in my student pilot career, I was literally on the runway about to take off, and I told my CFI something felt wrong and I taxied off. Gave him the airplane, and I checked my seat one more time—gave it a little push. In that moment, the little pin that was holding it in snapped in half and I went flying back. After who knows how many years, it finally gave out. That would have happened on takeoff if I hadn’t double checked it.

I’m not quite sure what clued me in that something was wrong—something subtle. But that was such a huge lesson. Always check. Always pay attention when something feels off even if you don’t initially know what it is.

[gregoryknox]

I soloed in 1970, retired in 2018 (30 yrs USAir/American Airbus Capt), I didn't get my CFI until I had 2000? hours, with lots of experience BEFORE becoming an instructor. During a Furlough (work layoff) I returned to being a CFII with real world (MD80) experiences to convey to my students. My journey included twin engine charter flying (CE310, 402, , 421, MU2, BE90/100, Metroliner, B737, B757, B767I, CRJ200/700, EMB190) and I loved teaching never ever did stalls at low altitude. RIP fellow pilots fly safe, fly smart, stay current, make every flight a learning experience.

[flexairz]

I am a CFI, I never let someone who has never flown do the take off. Ever.
They get control ONLY after a thorough briefing and at altitude (over 2000ft agl).

[gravity]

I'm a CFI and I'm shocked why any CFI would allow the student to perform any part of the takeoff or landing on their first flight

[gregoryschmidt]

Allowing an 18-year-old nervous kid to handle the controls on the takeoff of his very first flight seems like a supremely bad idea. And if he "locked up" pulling the wheel back, there's nothing she's going to be able to do about it. I've heard stories from CFI's about having to punch a physically strong student in the face to snap them out of a panic trance, with their arms locked up, pushing full forward on the yoke.

[douglasb]

In my 25+ years of being a commercial, single/multi engine IFR-rated pilot and a Citation 525 type rating, I have to say I’ve learned most from senior instructors with experience under their belt. We need to have more senior instructors training students.

[larryjohn]

Nice... I love how you break these down. I am a private pilot who flew to the Bahamas from Maryland as the "senior" pilot with a buddy that owned a P38-181 and less hours than, and I had about 100 hours, no instrument rating and no other experience. We lived. Then I flew a round trip from the Midwest to Maryland in January. Got within an hour drive before before winter storm met me. The rental FBO demanded I return the aircraft or pay the fees for the several winter storm days ahead. I refused, paid the fees, and told them they should never pressure pilots to endanger themselves or the public like they tried to me. I have never flown since. I know I don't fly enough to stay safe, and when I fly now, I pay a flight instructor to fly with me as copilot. I am so thankful I survived a few close calls and suggest other private pilots that don't fly often to do the same. As a side note, military pilots are safer because they MUST FOLLOW SAFETY PROTOCOLS or they can't fly. Private pilots can do as they want and must be better pilots on their own. If not, we know the results. Thank you for such professional reporting that isn't available in the civilian world.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[danielthompson]

I became a private pilot in 2000. On my first lesson, my CFI had me taxi out, do the run-up, taxi into position and take off. I had the controls the whole time during the lesson and landed safely at the end. This was class D airspace, and he did all of the communication with the tower. Not knowing any better I assumed he knew what he was doing, and this was normal for all first lessons. Reading all the comments here, it would seem this is not normal. How would I have known this was not normal? As time went on I realized he was a fly by the seat of the pants kind of instructor which I didn't feel comfortable with. I changed to the only other CFI at the field who was a fly by the book type of instructor which I was much more comfortable with. I feel having both types of CFI's made me a better pilot.

[Rift]

My instructor on an introductory flight made transfer of controls very clear to me and we briefed it well beforehand. I can see how important it is. When it was time to approach and land he said “I have the flight controls” I said “you have the flight controls” and made sure I wasn’t touching the yoke or rudder pedals. Easy for a beginner to understand.

[fabianclark]

Hoover, You are absolutely the best at giving explanations for crashes and simplify situations for even the most simple minded! Thanks for all you contribute.

[nploates]

I always learn something from these debriefs, thanks Hoover. When I was learning to fly my instructor didn’t let me take off during the first few flights which, to me, seems very sensible. Another instructor, an ex 747 pilot, warned me that if I didn’t relinquish the controls during a critical phase of flight when he said ”I have control” he would hit me. Quite right in my opinion!

[suekpp]

I had a dear friend die in the same situation as Alexis. He was re-certifying and his incompetent flight instructor put him in a stall too low to the ground. They were both killed. He left a wife and five children. Even more tragedy would come from this crash. Their youngest and only son never got over the loss of his father and seven years later at the age on eighteen he took his life. How could this have been avoided? I wish I knew. I think that after watching this video and the tragedy of what happened to my friend maybe there needs to be more and better oversight of flight instructors? All terrible tragedies. RIP to all. Thanks for bringing this to light.

[ei]

Being able to be a flight instructor with just 300 hours seems so reckless to me. I’m not judging anyone, I just can’t imagine feeling ready to teach someone else how to fly a plane without EXTENSIVE experience. Holding a life in your hands with very little experience is hard to fathom