When an airplane skids off a wet runway, it’s usually fairly easy to show whether the crew did something wrong and what their error was. The release in June of the NTSB's 400-page factual report on the Oct. 27, 2016 crash of a Boeing 737 chartered to the Trump campaign carrying then vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence certainly highlights a series of mistakes made by the flight crew that resulted in the airplane skidding off Runway 22 at New York La Guardia. The report, which consists of witness interviews and other factual data but no analysis or opinions by the Board, details evidence of the mistakes the crew made that sent the 737, operated by Eastern Air Lines Group, skidding off Runway 22 at 7:42 p.m., veering to the right, and partially transiting the engineered material arresting system (Emas) before coming to a stop on the grass 200 feet off the runway end. None of the 11 crewmembers or 37 passengers was injured. The aircraft incurred minor damage from the runway excursion.
The aircraft landed 4,200 feet beyond the runway threshold, significantly beyond the touchdown point, according to the report. The transcript and FDR data indicate that the flying pilot, the first officer, was trying to steer the aircraft down the centerline, while the captain was pulling the aircraft to the right. The transcript does not indicate that the captain stated that he was taking control of the aircraft. By steering the aircraft to the right, the captain prevented it from going straight into the Emas, which is designed specifically to contain runway excursions safely. The NTSB files indicate that while the first officer was aware of the Emas at the end of Runway 22, the captain either was not aware or had forgotten.
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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