We all know the expression “pride comes before a fall.” Pride in this old Biblical proverb can mean overconfidence in our abilities. But I think it could also mean insecurity about our abilities and fear of embarrassing ourselves by appearing foolish or incompetent. Or maybe even appearing not “macho” enough, a trait that can apply to women as well as men.
I was thinking of this expression recently as I read the NTSB’s 2017 to 2018 Most Wanted safety recommendations. Topping the NTSB’s list again for GA is loss of control in flight. While GA accidents have been trending down—and this can be attributed to a lot of factors, not least the government partnership with a number of GA organizations such as AOPA focused on this issue—the number of accidents remains unacceptably high. For the third year, the NTSB has highlighted the importance of preventing this type of accident, citing data that shows nearly half of all general aviation accidents are caused by loss of control. From 2008 to 2014, the NTSB data shows 1,194 fatalities from these crashes. According to the most recent FAA data, 384 people died in 238 GA accidents last year, with loss of control the number-one reason. This data shows one fatal accident every four days involving loss of control. Think about it. One fatal accident every few days.
With more than 40 years experience in the aviation industry, The Honorable John Goglia, was the first and only Airframe and Powerplant mechanic to receive a presidential appointment to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He served from August 1995 to June 2004.
As a Board Member, Mr. Goglia distinguished himself in numerous areas of transportation safety. In particular, he was instrumental in raising awareness of airport safety issues, including the importance of airport crash fire and rescue operations and the dangers of wildlife at airports. He played a key role in focusing international attention on the increasing significance of aircraft maintenance in aviation accidents. He pressed, successfully, for greater integration of civilian and military safety information, becoming a featured speaker at national aviation symposiums attended by military leaders and major defense contractors. He is a leading proponent of airplane child safety seats.
Prior to becoming a Board Member, Mr. Goglia held numerous positions in the airline industry. He started as a mechanic for United Airlines and eventually joined Allegheny, which became USAir. Additionally, he was involved for more than 20 years as a union flight safety representative on accident investigation teams. There, he developed a safety program for his union, the International Association of Machinists, and was its representative for NTSB investigations. For twelve years, he operated his own aircraft service company.
Numerous prestigious groups have recognized Mr. Goglia’s contributions to aviation safety. Aviation Week & Space Technology awarded him a coveted 2004 Laurel for his outstanding service as an NTSB Board member. The Society of Automotive Engineers presented him with the Aerospace Chair Award for outstanding leadership in 2003 and the Marvin Whitlock Award for outstanding management accomplishment in 2002.
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