Dangerous accidents lie in the system, not in the components. (Perrow, 1984)
Learning from experience is a critical element in system safety. In this blog post, I will revisit the impact of organisational safety culture on what response can be expected when a major accident happens. More specifically, I will explain the main reasons why a pathological organisation is not supportive of public inquiry and, as a result, unable to learn from a tragic safety loss. Read more…
In aviation circles, the Grumman F-11 Tiger is known as a capable carrier-based fighter aircraft, the second operational jet in US Navy service that could fly faster than the speed of sound. In popular culture, it is better known as one of the first types flown by the Blue Angels and, most regrettably, it can also claim the title as the first fighter jet that managed to shoot itself down.
The accident occurred on this day, 68 years ago. Thomas W. Attridge, Jr, a young Grumman test pilot, was flying his second sortie of the day. He was tasked to take off from Grumman's airbase on Long Island, proceed to the designated firing range over the Atlantic Ocean, and clear a test point on the performance flight envelope by strafing the water in two short bursts. Attridge was an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during WW2. The planned test sortie would have been a low risk operation for him. Except that it was not. Read more…