Avoiding Miscommunication

An analysis of a miscommunication-related aviation accident and how similar issues can be prevent in the future.

A student pilot died in a plane crash that occurred mid-air close to the North Las Vegas airport, Nevada. According to officials, the crash occurred on July seventeenth between a Cessna and a Malibu aircraft. First responders arrived at the scene to help the victims. The student pilot, the flight instructor, and two aboard the Malibu aircraft were all killed as a result of their injuries suffered in the collision. The student pilot, according to news reports, was just a few flights away from getting his pilot’s license. Soon after the plane crash, members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived in Las Vegas to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mid-air collision. A preliminary report was issued after the investigation, which revealed through transcripts of radio communication between air traffic control and the two pilots that one plane attempted to land on the wrong runway at the Las Vegas airport causing the crash. There can be several causes of a mid-air plane crash including the negligent actions of air traffic employees, which would result in liability for the federal government (Pfau, 2022).

The main problem in this accident appeared to be an issue of miscommunication or lack of situational awareness. The key to avoiding accidents such as this one is to always, always, always double-check with your air traffic controllers. The minute that a pilot becomes unsure of something like an instruction, it should be clarified with the air traffic controller immediately. This way, the possibility of any confusion can be taken care of before a pilot gets into a critical situation. Additionally, pilots should always write down clearances, familiarize themselves with airport diagrams, and if possible, fly with another pilot to take advantage of crew resource management (CRM): the effective use of all available resources for flight crew personnel to assure a safe and efficient operation, reducing error, avoiding stress and increasing efficiency.

References

Pfau, M. (2022, November 15). North Las Vegas plane crash kills student driver and three others. H&P Law. https://courtroomproven.com/north-las-vegas-plane-crash-kills-student-driver-and-three-others/