This e-book contains 11 stories of plane crashes, described in great detail, including the communication between the pilots and traffic control. These crashes have taken place during the course of 2001. With each description of the crash also a piece of text of the original investigation report is published and it contains a link to the full investigation report.
Each story goes into the series of events that led to the crash without conclusion drawing of the author. The crashes and near crashes that are described concern private and business planes and also larger passenger planes. As a pilot it is a very fine book to read, but also when you are not piloting, you can easily find your way in the details. You will learn from it and moreover it is also technically correct. And to be honest, every book with stories about fatal crashes goes down easily. Nothing is suggested or concluded, this leaves the author for the reader. A few crashes are generally known, but also a few stories are new for me. In some cases the crashes had a technical cause, but even so many a fatal mistake of the pilot(s) or traffic control.
Some stories do make you wonder though. A good example is the fatal crash with a Gulfstream III. The flight had a normal course, but a few small factors, that have influence on the flight duration, daylight period and a late update about the situation at site, are more and more influencing the decisions of the crew. Besides, the captain had heard from his client that giving way was actually not an option. Finally, the flight ends up with the death of all passengers and crew.
Each story is illustrated with pictures, tables and situation drawings of the crash sites, which also bring the case more to life. To be short, a good readable book, because especially the pilots amongst us can identify with the arising situation. With every story you get the idea that you are personally witnessing it. Conversations between pilots and traffic control are given, for as far as they were reproducible.
I did read it with a lot of pleasure and interest, but after reading I wondered how such experienced pilots can make such blunders. A good book for everyone who has an interest in aviation, but certainly interesting for every commercial and private pilot, who will absolutely encounter such situations and perhaps will than make the right decisions.
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