• Aviation Expert Witness specializing in small plane crashes
• Retained Testifying Expert
• Confidential Consultant, Researcher, and Investigator
• Technical Facts Witness
• Consulting services for 
  • Attorneys
  • Insurance companies
  • Private individuals
  • The aerospace industry
  • Department of Defense
  • FAA
  • NTSB
• News media consultant specializing in aircraft accident analysis
• Ability to travel worldwide

Specializations include Pilot Error, Spatial Disorientation, Midair Collisions and Weather

Tragic! Since the invention of the airplane, human error has been implicated in 70 to 80% of all civil and military aviation accidents.
Simply writing off an aviation accident to "pilot error" or "the pilot failed to control aircraft" is overly simplistic, if not naive, approach to accident causation and certainly not fair to all involved parties.

Most general aviation accidents cases involve privately owned and operated aircraft. Litigation involving these accidents will likely focus on a number of possible causes such as pilot negligence, pilot error, defective parts or faulty maintenance, air traffic control mistakes, unsafe flying and weather conditions, to name a few.

The challenges of proving causation can be complex. Yet, by applying my wealth of diversified expertise in aviation, I have successfully represented clients in a number of challenging cases.

Aircraft accident investigation is an art and a science requiring an investigator who is diversified as a pilot and also has real-world aircraft accident investigative experience. One who can go above and beyond utilizing tools such as the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System to analyze and determine what exactly happened in an accident with a focus on the human element, the most likely cause of the accident.

The NTSB Investigation  

Waiting on the final NTSB accident report can takes years! A quick search on the NTSB’s website validates that not only does it take years to complete their investigations, but their findings are often vague with no determination of a root cause. In addition, their opinions on probable cause are not admissible as evidence at a trial.

The injured party’s representatives have no right to be a part of the NTSB investigation. This inequity validates that the plaintiff needs an independent investigation to gather facts and/or an expert witness to analyze the NTSB’s facts and then testify to an opinion of the proximate cause of the accident, based on the facts.

An independent investigation needs to be started as soon as possible by an experienced aviation expert witness / investigator since evidence is fleeting. Freedom of Information Act information needs to be gathered from a variety of sources such as the FAA.

70-80% accidents are attributed to error. The human element is systematically analyzed for every accident to determine if pilot error was the root cause.  An analytical and systematic approach is used to analyze over 50 elements of pilot performance and behavior to determine if error was the cause and to what degree. In addition, each investigation concludes with proactive recommendations to the pilot, the FAA, NTSB, and the aviation industry to prevent a similar accident from reoccurring in the future.

Accident Facts (source: Air Safety Foundation): 

• Personal flying accounts for half of all GA flight activity, but more than 80% of the fatal accidents. 
• Personal flight accident rate is more than eight times the accident rate of business aircraft. 
• The highest risk flights are night and in the weather.... IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions). Most of the accidents that occur under these conditions are fatal, resulting in a fatal accident rate for night IMC that is more than four times the overall fatal accident rate.
• Landing accidents are the most frequent category of GA accidents, accounting for more than 40 percent of pilot-related accidents.
• Maneuvering flight accidents were the highest category of fatal general aviation accident.  Maneuvering is about piloting skills, the physical handling of the aircraft and the ability to put the machine just where you want it.
• Pilots who have less than 100 hours total time or time in type are statistically more likely to be involved in a takeoff accident.

Causation, Avoidance & Prevention

• Midair collisions and near misses.
• Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).
• Spatial disorientation, visual illusions, and perceptions.
• G-Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC).
• Bird/Wildlife strikes.
• Aircraft systems/failure analysis.
• Air traffic control procedures and airspace issues.
• Engine failures/fires/shutdown.

Pilot error and Human Factors

• Aeronautical judgment and decision-making.
• Risk management and mitigation.
• Airmanship and pilotage.
• Pilot fatigue and sleep analysis.
• Situational awareness, task management, and prioritization.
• Fuel mismanagement.
• Threat & error management.
• Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS).
• Flight planning.

Adverse weather

• Weather data retrieval and analysis.
• Visual Flight Rules (VFR) / Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
• Instrument approach procedures and analysis.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

• FAA and NTSB data searches and analysis.
• FAA operating rules and compliance analysis.
• Air Traffic Control radar data and communications retrieval.
• Aircraft records research and analyzed.
• FAA Airman records.
• Pilot's Bill of Rights (signed by President Obama.  Aug 2012)               

Accident Site Analysis

• Photographic Documentation.
• Wreckage pattern analysis.
• Pilot publications, charts, and maps.

Aviation Expert Witness

• Exhibit Preparation.
• Briefings.
• Retained Testifying Expert.
• Technical Facts Witness.
• Cessna aircraft crashes... Cessna 210
• Piper aircraft crashes...Piper PA28
• Grumman aircraft crashes
• Beechcraft aircraft crashes
• Maule aircraft crashes
• Float plane and seaplane crashes
• Experimental aircraft crashes such as Vans RV-4, RV-6, RV-7, and RV-8s.
• Glider accidents

Unique flying specialities

• Mountain/backcountry flying.
• Seaplanes and Floatplanes.
• Survival gear.
• Formation.
• Aerobatics.
• Gliders and Soaring.

Experienced!  I've been involved, as an investigator and consultant, with multiple accident investigations in the USAF and in General Aviation to include engine failures and fires, mid-air collisions, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), unmanned aircraft, bird strikes, and near mid-air collisions.  I have diversified investigative experience from fighters such as the F-16 and F/A-18 to bombers and attack aircraft such as the B-1B and the A-10 to general aviation accidents such as the Cessna 210 and the Piper Warrior (PA-28 series). 

Statistics reveal that a disproportionately high percentage of fatal accidents occurred during general aviation flights in comparison to airline operations. For every airline accident that resulted in fatalities, general aviation had about 125 fatal accidents.  That is why you need an investigator like me, who is a professional pilot, investigator, and general aviation flight instructor with a diversified background as a pilot and accident investigator, to conduct your investigation or provide consulting. 

I am a current major airline pilot who is also a retired fighter pilot, a current and qualified General Aviation aircraft owner, pilot, and instructor pilot, and I actively fly my airplane conducting aerobatics, mountain flying, and cross country flying.  In the General Aviation industry, I have investigated accidents as a confidential consultant and expert witness for the following type accidents:  controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), spatial disorientation, adverse weather, near midair collisions, and FAR violations.  I've been involved with accidents and incidents for aircraft such as the Cessna 210, the Piper Cub and Cherokee, and Experimental aircraft.

My goal is to not only determine the root cause of the accident, but prevent future accidents.  I've personally witnessed three aviation disasters and I've lost many friends in this industry. Those friends don't have a voice. I still have a voice!  It’s more about being part of something bigger than yourself and making a lasting impact on the future.  It only took one harrowing night combat mission to bring me to this point in life.

My experience flying in combat and as a witness to 
three airplane crashes continues to impact my proactive safety efforts today.  

Completely thorough, detailed, and fair with attention to details!

• Freedom of Information Act Requests (FOIA) with the FAA, NTSB, NWS, and FAA contractors.
• Pilot's airman records and medical.
• Air traffic control communications retrieval.
• Air traffic control radar data, plotting, and analysis.
• Flight plans.
• Weather data and analysis.
• Pilot error / human factors assessments.
• Accident reconstruction with maps, charts, and diagrams.
• FAA enforcement actions, FAA regulations.
• Airfield equipment. ILS, Approach Light System.
• Aircraft records search and analysis of data.
• Photo analysis.
• Wreckage patten assessment.
• Open source data retrieval.
• Findings, causes, and recommendations.
• Report writing and slide show briefs to explain the details.

USAF Accident Investigation Experience   

309th Fighter Squadron
56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ

• F-16 engine fuel pump failure – 14 Aug 1997 (investigating officer)
• F-16 G-LOC – 6 Jan 1998 (investigating officer)
• F16 HATR (near miss) with Cessna – 7 Oct 1998 (investigating officer)
• F-16 Mid-Air collision, crash – 22 Oct 1998 (interim investigating officer)
• F/A-18 gear failure on landing – 26 Feb 1998 (Air Force liaison/investigator to USMC)
• F-16 EPU activation/hydrazine leak – 19 Nov 1998 (investigating officer)
• F-16 bird strike – 9 Dec 1998 (investigating officer)
• F-16 engine failure, crash – 15 Dec 1998 (wing flight safety officer, advisor to board)
• F-16D engine failure, crash – 7 Jan 1999 (wing flight safety officer, pilot witness)
• F-16C engine stall/fluctuating power – 12 Jan 1999 (investigating officer)
• F-16 engine failure, crash – 3 Feb 1999 (wing flight safety officer, advisor to board)
• F-16 HATR (near miss) with Piper Warrior - 18 Mar 1999 (investigating officer)
• F-16 engine failure, crash – 26 Mar 1999 (wing flight safety officer, advisor to board)
• F-16D fuel starvation, landing gear collapse – 16 Apr 1999 (wing flight safety officer, advisor to board)

160th Fighter Squadron
Alabama Air National Guard
Dannelly Field, Montgomery, AL

• F-16C engine failure – 11 Sep 2002 (testifying pilot witness)
• F-16C HATR (near miss) with a twin Cessna – 2 Apr 2001 (investigating officer)

12th Air Force/AFSOUTH
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ

• F-22 landing gear collapse on landing – 8 Sep 2006 (12th Air Force advisor to board)
• F-15 engine FOD ingestion – 27 Apr 2007 (12th Air Force advisor to board)
• B-1B engine fire – 26 Aug 2007 (12th Air Force advisor to board)
• B-1B engine failure/fire – 20 Mar 2008 (12th Air Force advisor to board)
• B-1B engine thrust degraded – 3 May 2008 (12th Air Force advisor to board)
• B-1B engine FOD ingestion – 2007 crew chief fatigue (12th Air Force advisor to board)
• A-10 engine mishaps - multiple incidents 2006-2008 (12th Air Force advisor to board)

Unmanned Aircraft

• MQM-107 Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) engine failure – 16 Jun 2004 (Mishap Board President and Investigating Officer).
• MQ-1B Predator – 22 Jun 2006, 3 Aug 2006, 17 Jan 2007, 23 Feb 2007, 26 Mar 2007, 30 Jul 2007, 31 Jul 2007, 20 Aug 2007, 29 Nov 2007, 17 Dec 2007, 9 Apr 2008, 2 May 2008, 2 Jun 2008, 12 Jun 2008, 1 Aug 2008 (12th Air Force advisor to board).
• MQ-9A Reaper UAV aircraft Class A mishaps – 4 Sep 2007(12th Air Force advisor to board).