Flight Safety Detectives

flightsafetydetectives

World-renowned aviation-industry consultants and former NTSB investigators John Goglia and Greg Feith have 100 years of worldwide aviation safety experience between them. In this hard-hitting podcast series they talk about everything aviation -- from the behind-the-scenes facts on deadly air crashes to topics of interest such as tips and tricks for navigating through airports and security, traveling with infants and children, unruly passengers, and packing your bags to ease through security.

  1. Plane Crashes Lead to Complex Investigations - Episode 315

    1 DAY AGO

    Plane Crashes Lead to Complex Investigations - Episode 315

    This episode looks at two aviation accident investigations that were highly complex for very different reasons. One is the well-known TWA Flight 800 investigation where John Goglia and Todd Curtis were both directly involved. The other is a lesser-known 2002 crash of a Cessna 208B aircraft that is the subject of a book by author Leslie Kean. John and Todd review the crash of TWA Flight 800, an investigation where John was involved as an NTSB Board Member and Todd as support for Boeing. They explore the complexity of the investigation and the efforts made to understand the accident. They highlight the massive amount of data in the NTSB Public Docket. A different kind of complexity was involved in the investigation of a Cessna 208B aircraft that lost control and crashed shortly after takeoff from Mobile, Alabama. Leslie Kean covers this investigation in her 2010 book "UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record." She calls the accident a UAP event AND Todd agrees. John was also involved in the investigation as a NTSB board member. The NTSB identified the probable cause as spatial disorientation followed by a loss of control.  However, one aspect of the accident remains unresolved. Several pieces of the wreckage have red streaks that could not be matched to aviation paint used on civilian or military aircraft. Several organizations were involved in this investigation. Despite multiple analyses of the red streaks, they could not be explained. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    40 min
  2. First Look at Deadly Bangor Plane Crash - Episode 314

    4 FEB

    First Look at Deadly Bangor Plane Crash - Episode 314

    In a live episode for members recorded on Jan 26, John Goglia and Greg Feith offer their first findings related to Sunday's crash a Bombardier Challenger 600.  Both are familiar with the plane and share the issues that need investigating and the steps the NTSB is likely to take on scene. Investigators need to talk to people present that day and learn what happened leading up to the flight.  They also will need to look into whether the plane was deiced, when and what fluid was used. Runway conditions could have been a factor in aircraft and engine performance. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    26 min
  3. General Aviation Accident Data Mixed Messages - Episode 313

    28 JAN

    General Aviation Accident Data Mixed Messages - Episode 313

    FAA data shows a steady decrease in U.S. accident rates for general aviation in recent years. But the data may not show an accurate story. Todd Curtis and John Goglia take a deeper dive into the data. Comparing the FAA rates to a NTSB table listing accidents in general aviation shows that the NTSB data implies that general aviation aircraft crashed roughly 50 times more frequently than airlines and other air carrier flights. Pilots should check out the website for the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee (GAJSC), an organization that partners with the FAA and other aviation organizations to provide useful safety information. This organization provides information about key aviation safety risks and offers many additional resources. Pilots and others involved in aviation should to take advantage of this and other aviation educational resources. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  4. Hawker Stalls Lead to Surprising NTSB Advisory - Episode 312

    21 JAN

    Hawker Stalls Lead to Surprising NTSB Advisory - Episode 312

    A just-issued NTSB advisory warns operators of several Hawker jet models of a dangerous stall tendency not adequately explained in the aircraft's documentation. Todd Curtis and John Goglia share important background and details. The advisory was issued based on findings from two fatal Hawker jet crashes, one in 2024 and the other in 2025. Both occurred during post-maintenance flights to test the stall warning system. Interesting - the NTSB also noted that it could not find any experience, training, or qualification criteria for pilots tasked to perform a stall test flight or any additional plan or procedures for performing a stall test flight. The advisory applies to 664 recent Hawker jet models and says about 450 older models may have a similar issue. The advisory includes seven recommendations to address the issue. It also states that the manufacturer's instructions for required post-maintenance test flights were deficient.  John shares his experience with issues that arise when aircraft return to flight after major maintenance, including pilots who don't take the time to do extensive preflight preparation. In fact, some operators restrict who can fly post-maintenance missions. The NTSB advisory states that in three accidents investigated the effects the crew experienced when the aircraft entered a stall were much more severe than the aircraft's documentation indicated. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min
  5. Aviation Safety Deep-Dive - Your Comments Answered - Episode 311

    14 JAN

    Aviation Safety Deep-Dive - Your Comments Answered - Episode 311

    In a December livestream event Todd Curtis and John Goglia tackled listener questions. Listen as they take a deeper dive into some of aviation safety’s most important topics: TWA 800 investigation – was it a coverup?Getting NTSB reps on the show to discuss investigationsTaxiway issuesHow the media affects air crash investigationsUpdates on the Louisville crashListen and get updated on these topics and more.  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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min
  6. Crisis Communication for Airlines - Episode 310

    7 JAN

    Crisis Communication for Airlines - Episode 310

    A veteran crisis-communications expert and author of “Transport Management: Successes and Failures” (2026) joins the show. Linda Tavlin draws on more than 35 years of experience to discuss how transportation organizations—especially airlines—should communicate during major accidents and crises.  Linda and John Goglia reflect on their long professional history, including work on major aviation disasters. They illustrate how poor communication during crises often worsens outcomes, while good communication can significantly reduce long-term damage. Linda shares a story about two airlines she helped train. After both had major accidents, one airline followed her approach to communicating about the accident and the other did not. The outcomes were very different. Linda’s approach to crisis communication includes advice on who should communicate to the different groups who deal with an accident investigation. John also discusses the communication strategy in the investigation of the 1996 fatal ValuJet crash. John, Linda and Todd Curtis also discuss the investigation of the 2013 Asiana crash in San Francisco, where a television station broadcast information about the pilots in the airliner that was both false and offensive. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min
  7. Real Time Reporting on an Emergency Airworthiness Directive - Episode 309

    31/12/2025

    Real Time Reporting on an Emergency Airworthiness Directive - Episode 309

    The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) on November 28, 2025, that ordered nearly 6,000 A319, A320, and A321 aircraft be grounded to check for a flight control computer issue. Todd and John recorded this show while gathering details about the grounding in real time. The show was recorded as John gets phone calls and emails from colleagues during the show and Todd prepares for a television news interview. This episode shows how they gather facts and data on unfolding aviation safety events like ADs. The affected aircraft had to be on the ground for repair, just over a day after the AD was issued. John describes how challenging this would be for airlines that fly large numbers of the affected aircraft. He shares the logistical issues the airlines face as they check these aircraft, especially if they are located far away from a repair station. They also predict the impact on the flying public. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    30 min
  8. Biffle Citation Crash Facts and Problematic Conflict- Episode 308

    21/12/2025

    Biffle Citation Crash Facts and Problematic Conflict- Episode 308

    Recorded the day of the crash of a Cessna Citation earlier in the day that killed former NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his family, and three others when the aircraft struck the ground just short of the runway and caught fire at the Statesville, North Carolina airport. The aircraft had taken off from the airport just a few minutes earlier and was attempting to land at the same airport. The aircraft, a 1981 Cessna Citation, was owned by a company associated with Biffle. Biffle was a rated multiengine pilot, but it is not known whether he was also a member of the flight crew. At the time of this recording, there was little information about the factual circumstances of the event.  The ADS-B flight track of the aircraft implied that the short flight may have been in a cloud layer, but there was no indication that wind or visibility played a role in the crash. John Goglia discusses how aircraft even older than this accident aircraft can be properly maintained, and he also discussed how he would approach this kind of accident if he were leading the maintenance investigation. Greg Feith and John have issues with the NTSB Board Member Michael Graham leading the team because he was a former employee of the company that also owns Cessna.  John discussed how, during his time on the Board, he was not allowed to participate in any hearings involving one of his former airline employers. He faced media scrutiny when he was involved in the investigation of an airline that operated flights on behalf of a former employer. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest should be avoided. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    35 min

About

World-renowned aviation-industry consultants and former NTSB investigators John Goglia and Greg Feith have 100 years of worldwide aviation safety experience between them. In this hard-hitting podcast series they talk about everything aviation -- from the behind-the-scenes facts on deadly air crashes to topics of interest such as tips and tricks for navigating through airports and security, traveling with infants and children, unruly passengers, and packing your bags to ease through security.

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