Naked Pilot: The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents (Paperback)

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Former RAF and airline pilot Beaty (Eagles) investigates planes, pilots, and airline disasters that are commonly categorized under pilot error, a catchall that Beaty finds misleading. Instead, he sees most air accidents as the result of the "collective mistake," where the culprit is rarely one person. Pilots certainly can err, especially when their egos take precedence over standard procedures. But copilots, airline management, air traffic controllers, maintenance crews, aviation designers, and stewardesses can make blunders that lead to horrendous accidents or exacerbate minor ones. Beaty's expert analysis of the events leading up to past catastrophes reveals how seemingly insignificant occurrences can develop into the most terrible outcomes--as evidenced by the 1977 runway collision at Tenerife in the Canary Islands that took 583 lives. Though probably not the book to take on a long flight, this is necessary reading for an informed air-traveling public. Brian McCombie

Product Description

In one of the worst aviation disasters ever, a L-1011 with a fire on board was able to land safely back at the airport; however, no exit was opened for twenty-three minutes and 301 people inside died. Why?

Investigations into the causes of airplane accidents have for decades focused on what happened and who did it--very rarely on why. It's the question "why" that Beaty addresses here.

Focusing on large commercial-aircraft accidents, he looks at human error precipitated by individuals as well as management and government. No other book on the subject speaks with such clarity to both the expert and the layman.

David Beaty is a former Royal Air Force pilot, commercial airline pilot, and psychologist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: The Crowood Press (May 5, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853104825
• ISBN-13: 978-1853104824
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #324,563 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent analysis of human factors in aviation, December 3, 1998

By A Customer

This is a well-researched book on how human factors affect aviation workers. It's not restricted to pilots. Maintenance workers, management, politicians, manufacturers are all affected by the psychological factors detailed in the book. Many of the concepts occur in everyday life to everyone. There were several times when the author talks about concepts like laterality which happened to me personally, even if I've never been involved in aviation work.

Highly recommended.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, May 2, 2002

By	Phil Reda (Woodinville, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the best book on human factors by far. Most books of this genera tend to put you asleep. Well written and researched. As each human factor is explored -several accidents are then reviewed and shown how the factors played a roll in the final outcome. For those who fly this is a must have -read it and live it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, August 4, 1998

By A Customer

Great title - shame about the cover. Indeed, the content is about as horrible as the prospect of a pilot with no clothes on. However, this is no crew-hotel kiss and tell story, it's about accidents. Airliner disasters have proved a profitable publishing topic over the years and David Beaty pulls no punches with both cockpit crew and management in exposing thinking patterns behind a number of well-known airliner crashes. For example, airlines become extremely agitated at the mere suggestion that pilots enjoy a drink or three, yet the American pilot of a Japanese Airlines cargo boarded his DC-8 blind drunk and predictably ended up in a mass of flames and wreckage not far from his takeoff point. In a true spirit of flightdeck denial, his colleagues who were at the bar at the same time said they hadn't seen him drink a thing. However, witnesses not known to him personally spoke otherwise. The entire crew were wiped out. David Beaty manages to avoid the mundane implications ! of Cockpit Resource Management cliché and has produced a great read that will entertain both ATP's and PPL's. Excellent.