He is a retired National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) senior air safety investigator and supervisory air safety investigator. Concurrent with multiple administrative duties, he also conducted several hundred general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft and FAR 135 and FAR 121 air carrier accident and incident investigations; as well as extensive work on a wide range of aircraft accidents, including TWA 800, Alaska 261, USAir 427.
While at the Federal Aviation Administrative (FAA), he 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 Falcon 50 and Swearingen Metroliner. He conducted initial and recurrent FAR 135 pilot certification, reviewed and approved FAR 135 operations manuals and FAR 141 flight school syllabuses. He also conducted initial certification of FAR 135 operations and FAR 141 certificated flight schools and provided surveillance and inspection of FAR 141 flight schools and FAR 135 air carrier operations, including Learjet and Falcon 50 operators. He investigated aircraft accidents delegated by the NTSB as IIC (investigator in charge), and assisted on other investigations as FAA IIC.
Earlier in his career, he 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. He functioned at various times as president, director of operations, and director of maintenance. He also 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.
He also has 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.
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