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he deadliest accident in aviation history: How United Airlines Flight 173 changed flight trainin
On December 28, 1978, United Airlines Flight 173 suffered a fatal crash while approaching the Portland International Airport in Oregon. The accident not only killed 10 people, but also triggered the aviation industry's concern about aviation. A major overhaul of training. The story behind the accident reveals how human error affects flight safety and is leading the aviation industry to rethink pilot training and cooperation.
The incident occurred on a DC-8 passenger aircraft. The pilot encountered an abnormal situation with the landing gear and chose to enter the hold mode for troubleshooting. During this process, the captain focused on solving the technical problem and ignored multiple warnings from the co-pilot and flight engineer about insufficient fuel, which ultimately caused the engine to stall and the flight crashed six miles short of the runway. The incident highlighted the need for structured communication and teamwork in high-pressure environments.
The investigation results of this accident prompted the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to reconsider flight training methods, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Crew Resource Management (CRM) system.
The birth of crew resource management
CRM is a training program designed to improve aviation safety, focusing on improving communication, leadership and decision-making skills among pilots. Its founder, David Beaty, published the book "Human Factors in Flight Accidents" in 1969, which laid the foundation for the subsequent CRM concept. After the incident of United Airlines Flight 173, the U.S. aviation industry began to reform. In 1981, United Airlines took the lead in launching a comprehensive CRM plan.
This training is not just for pilots but also extends to cabin crew to promote more efficient communication and teamwork. Over time, CRM has proven to be effective in reducing communication barriers and improving problem-solving efficiency, thereby improving aviation safety.
Applications of CRM in other fields
With the promotion of CRM concept, its application is no longer limited to the aviation industry. Many other high-risk industries are beginning to adopt the system. For example, in fields such as fire protection, medical care, and transportation, the basic principles of CRM are also used to improve the safety and efficiency of the work environment.
In the field of firefighting, the application of CRM has successfully improved emergency response operations and helped firefighters collaborate more effectively in stressful environments.
In the medical field, similar principles are applied to improve patient safety. In certain medical procedures, such as central venous catheterization, the use of checklists improves communication and reduces errors.
Accident case studies
Although United Airlines Flight 173 was a tragedy, the changes it triggered have benefited the aviation industry a lot. Several subsequent incidents, such as United Airlines Flight 232 and Air France Flight 447, also emphasized the importance of CRM. In Flight 232, the pilots' coordinated operations and effective communication were regarded as one of the success factors.
The captain of Flight 232 once said that without effective CRM, they would not have been able to successfully land.
For Air France Flight 447, the investigation revealed that the accident was partly caused by the failure to follow CRM procedures, reflecting that in an emergency, the lack of clear division of responsibilities and communication can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Future Outlook
Today, CRM has become a core part of commercial aviation pilot training and a regulatory requirement among aviation regulators in the United States and Europe. In many countries, aircraft design, maintenance, air traffic control and other fields have incorporated the concept of CRM, which has also promoted cross-industry safety standardization.
As human applications continue to expand in different fields, the impact of CRM is still growing, challenging how we can work together effectively to avoid the recurrence of tragedies.
As aviation safety advances, the concept of CRM continues to evolve and develop. It is not only the improvement of flying skills, but also the wisdom of all mankind to pool their wisdom and jointly solve problems when facing major challenges. In the future, can we further bring these concepts into daily life and make everyone a better partner and decision-maker?
