Safety
Can Reading Accident Reports Produce Better Pilots?
Students need the right frame of mind to learn what the reports are truly telling them.

A quick review of recent NTSB accident reports proves there’s a serious need for better flight training in the helicopter industry. Dan Doepker, a member of the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) and chief instructor at Hillsboro Aviation, says ground school is just as important to a safe flying career as learning how to manipulate the cyclic and collective. He believes the dozens of operational safety insights available to pilots of all experience levels in the NTSB’s accident and incident reports make them an invaluable training resource. “As safety educators, we must teach students to use all the resources available, learn from others’ mistakes and improve their education to become better pilots. We must…get them excited about learning how to save lives.”