337 Yeti Airlines flight 691 crash – Human Factors for General Aviation Pilots

Max discusses the critical role of human factors in aviation safety, prompted by the tragic crash of Yeti Airlines flight 691 in Nepal in 2023. The flight crashed during a visual approach due to pilot errors and high workload, resulting in the loss of all 72 people on board.

Trescott explains how human factors like high workload, distractions, and ineffective Crew Resource Management (CRM) played a critical role in the accident. The crew's use of noise-canceling headsets and the challenging new airport approach added to their workload, leading to mistakes.

Trescott uses the SHELL model (Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware) to analyze the accident, emphasizing how the interaction of these elements can lead to errors. He discusses the effects of high workload on pilot performance, including attentional narrowing and task shedding, and offers strategies to manage it, such as starting descent planning earlier and effective CRM practices. Recognizing high workload is crucial, but pilots often don't notice it in real-time, necessitating proactive measures and specific training. Trescott concludes by highlighting the dangers of overconfidence and complacency, even among experienced pilots, and stresses the importance of developing strategies to catch and correct mistakes to enhance flight safety.

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Mentioned on the Show
Yeti Airlines flight 691 Final Report
Flight-crew human factors handbook
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