Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

On Tuesday,&nbsp;the NTSB found that a helicopter air ambulance operator’s “inadequate management of safety” was the probable cause of the fatal crash of a Bell 407 in Zaleski, Ohio, on Jan.&nbsp;29, 2019. The Survival Flight helicopter crashed while on a VFR flight in an area of deteriorating weather en route to a patient pickup, killing all three crew aboard. Pilot Jennifer Topper was attempting to make a 180-degree turn in an area of localized snow showers when the aircraft crashed in a heavily wooded area.

 


The NTSB found that&nbsp;Survival Flight’s routine failure to use preflight risk assessment had become “normalized” and that employees said management pressured them to accept flights rejected by other helicopter air ambulance services due to weather. The NTSB again called for mandated safety management systems (SMS) for all Part 135 operators and faulted the FAA for “inadequate oversight” of Survival Flight’s risk-management program.

 


NTSB&nbsp;Investigators said the safety risks that existed at Survival Flight would likely have been identified and mitigated by a properly-run SMS, which could have prevented this crash. “We keep asking that safety management systems be required of Part 135 operators because we keep seeing crashes the systems are designed to prevent,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. “This has to change, and it is past time for the FAA to implement our recommendation.”

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

NTSB Faults Lacking Safety Culture in Aeromed Crash

The NTSB found that a helicopter air ambulance operator’s “inadequate management of safety” led to the fatal crash of a Survival Fight helicopter. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair 

David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In Accidents

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

NTSB Cites Heliport Misidentification in Aug. 2025 Crash

Captain opted out of instrument approach over autopilot concerns

Fire of Unknown Origin Led to 2024 Citation X Accident

NTSB: Ignition source could not be conclusively identified

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN