We often learn best by reviewing the mistakes of others. To this end, author John Lowery provides an in-depth analysis of prominent aviation accidents to illustrate the potential dangers during each phase of flight and the psychology behind pilot error. Lowery also demonstrates how a chain of errors—often originating from a pilot’s support team—can precipitate into fatal accidents. An understanding of these factors is key to training to become safer, more effective pilots-in-command.

A Pilot’s Accident Review provides pilots with a study of safety procedures in intense circumstances, and a survey of high-profile incidents designed to build awareness of the most preventable factors in pilot error. Covered are the primary causes of CFIT, as well as the human factors that can precipitate accidents—particularly complacency, over-confidence, and compulsion. Lowery discusses at length the JFK, Jr. and Concorde accidents, and those involving Frank Sinatra’s mother, Reba McIntire’s band, John Denver and Wiley Post.