Posts classified under: Expert Witness Directory

Academic Background and Aeronautical Ratings

• Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Akron University, 1965
• U.S. Air Force Under Graduate Pilot Training, 1967
• Commercial Airplane, with Multiple-Engine and Instrument Ratings (not current)

Professional Experience

• Air Safety Investigator and Accident Prevention and Preparedness Specialist, RTI Group, LLC, 2006 – Present

• Air Safety Consultant, Safety Services International (SSI), Sammamish, WA, 2000 - 2010

• Transportation Safety Board of Canada,

­ Director of Investigations - Air, managed the aviation accident/incident investigation program for Canada as part of a US-Canada government exchange program, 1999-2000

• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), retired 2000

­ Deputy Director, Office of Aviation Safety, 1995-1999.  Assisted Director with the management of the Office of Aviation Safety regional and major accident/incident investigation programs, including oversight of all accident/incident investigations under NTSB responsibility in the U.S. and overseas.  Represented the NTSB for international aviation safety affairs, including working with ICAO.

­ Chief, Major Aviation Accident Division, 1985-1995.  Managed the Investigators-in-Charge of all major aviation accidents in the U.S., and the U.S. Accredited Representatives sent to manage the U.S. teams for major accidents overseas involving U.S. airlines and U.S. manufactured aircraft.  Was directly involved as an investigator or manager for virtually all major airline accidents involving U.S. interests worldwide, during this 10-year period.  Was also responsible for managing NTSB aviation Public Hearings and major aviation accident report and safety recommendation preparation.  Represented the NTSB for international aviation safety affairs.

­ Deputy Director, Bureau of Accident Investigation, 1985.  Assisted the Director with managing the staff of the Marine, Rail, Pipeline/Hazardous Materials, Highway, and Aviation Divisions responsible for major investigations, public hearings, and safety recommendation and report writing preparation.

­ Chief, Human Performance Division – Intermodal, 1983-1985.  Managed the newly-formed Human Performance Division and took it from a “concept to a reality” at the NTSB.  The Division developed a protocol for human factors investigations for all modes of transportation, and institutionalized the protocol for the NTSB and industry.

­ Major Aviation Go-Team Investigator-in-Charge, 1979-1983.  Investigator-in-Charge of major domestic airline accidents and U.S. Accredited Representative for major overseas accidents involving U.S. airlines and U.S. manufactured aircraft.  Was responsible for managing the investigation go-team, organization of, and participation in, public hearings, and safety recommendation and final report preparation.

Investigator at NTSB Denver Field Office, Colorado, 1976-1979.  Investigator-in-Charge of general aviation, air taxi, and air carrier accidents and incidents.  Responsible for managing the investigations and safety recommendation and final report preparation.

­ Human Factors Investigator, Washington, DC, 1972-1976.  NTSB Human Factors Group Chairman (covered post-crash survival factors and human performance issues) on major go-team domestic accidents and specialist on overseas accidents involving U.S. airlines and U.S. manufactured aircraft.

• United States Air Force, F100 fighter pilot in North Africa, T-37 and T-38 maintenance test pilot, and accident investigator, 1965-1971.  Investigated two fatal accidents, as well as many non-fatal accidents and incidents as both pilot and maintenance member of the investigation teams.

Other Professional Experience

• Managed NTSB International Aviation Affairs for 15 years – primary liaison with ICAO

• Led “ice-breaking” delegations to China and Soviet Union in late 1980s on behalf of the US NTSB and the US government

• Led the U.S. side of the joint Soviet Union/U.S. Working Group on Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention from 1989 to 2000

• Contract Instructor and member of Advisory Board – Southern California Safety institute, 2000-2007

• Contract Instructor for the Cranfield University, UK, aircraft accident investigation course, 2006-2007

• International Aviation advisor, Flightscape Inc., Ottawa, Canada, 2002-2007

• Represented NTSB as an observer at European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) annual meetings of the Group of Experts (Chief Inspectors of Accidents) representing most European countries from 1990 to 1999

• Led U.S. Delegations to ICAO AIG Divisional Meetings in 1992 and 1999, at which Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention and other related topics were discussed and amended

• Member of the multi-national team charged with reviewing and amending ICAO Accident/Incident Investigation Manual, 1992-1999

• Led the U.S. team supporting the 1993 ICAO re-investigation of the Korean Air Boeing 747 shoot-down by the Soviet Union in 1983

• Led the U.S. team supporting the 1996 ICAO investigation of the shoot-down of U.S. aircraft by Cuban fighters

• Led the U.S. team for 10 years that developed the memorandum of understanding on Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention between Russia and the U.S., signed in 1998 by the U.S. Secretary of State and the Russian Prime Minister

• Represented the NTSB, as part of the U.S. delegation to the 34th Conference of Directors-General of Civil Aviation, Asia Pacific Region, November 1998, at Kathmandu, Nepal

• Taught aviation accident investigation and prevention management, policies, and procedures in the U.S. and overseas, including for the NTSB school from 1982 to 1998

• Have presented numerous technical papers at international seminars on the subjects of human factors in transportation accidents and major aviation accident investigation management

 

Professional Associations and Activities

• International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), Vice President, elected October 2002
• ISASI Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter, President 2002
• Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) and FSF International Advisory Committee, Member
• Southern California  Safety Institute, Contract Instructor and Member of Advisory Board, 2000 to present
• Safety Services International, LLC, Associate Member

Awards

• Jerome F. Lederer Award for outstanding lifetime contributions in the field of airplane accident investigation and prevention

Academic Background

• University of Montana, BA

Professional Experience

• RTI Group, LLC, Annapolis, MD, Aircraft Accident Reconstruction, 2010 – present.

• Air Safety Consultant, Safety Services International (SSI), Sammamish, WA, 2001-2010

• National Transportation Safety Board, Senior Air Safety Investigator (GS-14) (Retired), and Supervisory Air Safety Investigator (GM-14)

­ Over a ten-year period directed and supervised five Air Safety Investigators, including guidance and oversight of their investigations of over 2000 aircraft accidents.  Directed the development and generation of safety proposals and recommendations to the FAA and industry, as well as preparation and review of associated reports.  Monitored team investigator expenses, conducted performance reviews and performance appraisals, identified and interviewed applicants for investigator vacancies, served as Field Chief, and acting Regional Director in the Regional Director’s absence.  Concurrently conducted several hundred general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft and FAR 135 and FAR 121 air carrier accident and incident investigations.  Extensive work on a wide range of aircraft accidents, including TWA 800, Alaska 261, USAir 427.

• Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector

­ Conducted certification of airmen, including commercial pilot and certificated flight instructor certification, instrument ratings, airline transport pilot certification, and type rating of pilots in Learjet, Dassault DA-50 (Falcon 50), and Swearingen SA-227 (Metroliner).  Conducted initial and recurrent FAR 135 pilot certification.  Reviewed and approved FAR 135 operations manuals, and FAR 141 flight school syllabuses.  Conducted initial certification of FAR 135 operations and FAR 141 certificated flight schools.  Provided surveillance and inspection of FAR 141 certificated flight schools and FAR 135 air carrier operations, including Learjet and Falcon 50 operators.  Investigated aircraft accidents delegated by the NTSB as IIC (investigator in charge), and assisted on other investigations as FAA IIC.  Investigated and documented FAR violations by pilots and FAR 135 operations.

• Federal Aviation Administration Accident Prevention Specialist

­ Program manager for accident prevention activities, including speaking engagements, assistance and counseling to individual pilots, corporate flight groups, flight schools, instructors, and other general aviation entities.

• Private Airlines First officer, Boeing 727

­ Owned and operated a general aviation fixed base operation with 12 aircraft, including two pressurized multi-engine airplanes.  Operations included single-and multi-engine FAR air carrier operations, FAR 61 instrument, single and multi-engine-flight training, FAA Repair Station, and aircraft refinishing facility.  Functioned at various times as president, director of operations, and director of maintenance

­ Early in career functioned as an assistant chief pilot for a larger FAR 135 operator, and at one time as an assistant chief pilot of a FAR 141 flight school

­ Approximately 8,500 hours flight time, including in excess of 5,000 hours multi-engine, and in excess of 1,500 hours of dual instruction given.

Continuing Technical Education

• American Management Association International Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Technical Boeing Commercial Airplane Group 737-300 familiarization course

• FAA General Aviation Operations Indoctrination

• FAA Accident Prevention Techniques

• FAA Air Taxi Operations and Certifications

• FAA Compliance and Enforcement

• Flight Safety Learjet type rating course

• Flight Safety Falcon 50 type rating course

• Flight Safety SA-226/7 Metroliner type rating course

• Garrett AiResearch TPE331 line maintenance course

• National Test Pilot School Part 25 aircraft certification flight test course

• NTSB Supervisory/Managerial courses

• NTSB leadership and management training, phases I and II.

• Pratt & Whitney PW4000/767 EEC training course

• Teledyne Continental Line Maintenance course

• Transportation Safety Institute rotorcraft safety and accident investigation course

• USAF Composite materials failure analysis course

Certifications

• Aircraft and Power Plant Mechanic with current Inspection Authorization (IA has been active since 1980)

• Commercial privileges: single-engine sea

• Certified flight instructor (Airplane single and multi-engine land, instrument/airplane)

• FAA Air Transport Pilot (Single and multi-engine land)

• Type ratings:  Learjet, DA-50 (Falcon 50), Swearingen SA-227

Awards

• NTSB Outstanding Performance Award 1998

• NTSB Performance Award 1997

• NTSB Superior Accomplishment Award 1995

• NTSB Special Act/Service Award 1994

• NTSB Special Act/Service Award 1993

• NTSB Special Act/Service Award 1992

Selected Publications and Editorial Positions

• Contributing editor, Private Pilot magazine

• Contributing editor, Light Plane Maintenance magazine

• Managing editor, Popular Rotorcraft Flying magazine

• Approximately 100 articles published in Flying, Private Pilot, Aero, Air Progress, Light Plane Maintenance, and other aviation periodicals

• Accident Investigation and the Amateur-built Experimental Aircraft, presented at the 27th Annual International Society of Air Safety Investigators Seminar, Auckland, New Zealand