WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board has scheduled an investigative hearing on February 20 into the crash of a UPS Airbus A300-600 on approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., on Aug. 14, 2013. The two flight crew members were killed and the airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground less than a mile short of Runway 18. The cargo flight had originated from Louisville, Ky. Runway 18 was being used because the main runway at the airport was closed for repairs at the time of the airplane’s arrival. The one-day hearing will examine: – Execution of non-precision approaches, including initial and recurrent training, adherence to standard operating procedures, and proficiency – Human factors issues associated with effective crew coordination and resource management applicable to this accident, including decision-making, communication, fatigue and fitness for duty, as well as monitoring and cross-checking, policies, standard operating procedures, guidance, and training provided to UPS crewmembers. – Dispatch procedures, including the training, evaluation, roles and responsibilities of UPS dispatchers and the limitations of dispatch-related software. The investigation is ongoing and this hearing will develop additional facts to support the investigation. The hearing will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center in Washington, D.C. A detailed agenda and a list of attendees will be forthcoming. Parties to the hearing will include the Federal Aviation Administration, UPS, Airbus, the Independent Pilots Association and the Transport Workers Union. The accredited representative from the French Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses pour la securite de l’aviation civile (BEA) will participate on the technical panels. The determination of the probable cause of the crash will be released when the investigation is complete. Just prior to the start of the hearing, the public docket will be opened. Included in the docket are photographs, interview transcripts and other documents.
NTSB To Hold Hearing Into Birmingham UPS A300 Crash
Key Takeaways:
- The NTSB has scheduled an investigative hearing for February 20 to examine the August 14, 2013 crash of a UPS Airbus A300-600 near Birmingham, Ala., which resulted in two fatalities and destroyed the aircraft.
- The hearing will focus on three key areas: the execution of non-precision approaches (including training and adherence to SOPs), human factors such as crew coordination, communication, and fatigue, and UPS dispatch procedures and limitations.
- This one-day hearing aims to develop additional facts for the ongoing investigation, with participation from parties including the FAA, UPS, Airbus, and pilot/worker unions.
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