NTSB Cites Pilot Actions in Atlas Crash | Aviation International News

NTSB Cites Pilot Actions in Atlas Crash

The crash of an Atlas Air 767 in 2019 resulted from inadvertent activation of the airplane's go-around mode and the pilots' incorrect response.

By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief

August 7, 2020

The NTSB has released the probable cause of the crash of an Atlas Air Boeing 767 on Feb. 23, 2019, near Houston, citing the first officer (FO) for “inappropriate response” to inadvertent activation of the autopilot’s go-around mode and the captain for not adequately monitoring the flight path of the airplane and for not taking control. Both pilots and a pilot flying jumpseat died in the accident.

The 767 descended rapidly from about 6,000 feet, 32 seconds after the FO inadvertently switched on the airplane’s go-around mode. According to the NTSB, “Within seconds of go-around mode activation, manual elevator control inputs overrode the autopilot and eventually forced the airplane into a steep dive from which the crew did not recover.”

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