Accident Case Study: Traffic Pattern Tragedy 

I’ve been a pilot for 52 years and a 747 Captain for 33 years. NEVER let an air traffic controller jerk you around or tell you how to fly an airplane like they did to this Cirrus pilot. I can’t tell you how upsetting this is to me.

Ok enough now! After reading all these comments from private pilots and other pilots or non pilots regarding "the 737 pilots would have been pissed because of going around", i wanna make one thing clear, and i am sure i speak for 99 percent of my colleagues in the cockpits of their airliners around the entire world: As soon as we receive a "GO AROUND", this call alone triggers an automatism with us that is hard to understand or believe by someone who is not flying/ flying commercial. NOT ONE SECOND! we think about our passengers that could now miss their next flight or the fuel we burn because of this, not to mention that we just for that reason carry extra fuel with us. What are you all thinking?? When is listened to this case study i could clearly hear in her voice the rising stress level, the more friendly she became in chatting with ATC the more she showed that the became exhausted and overwhelmed with this situation. What game was ATC playing? And when there would have been another 100 737s on approach, would they have taken her out of her landing clearance for another 100 times? She should have done only one thing, i was "telling" her this several times: Lady, now you DECLARE EMERGENCY. Let me tell you student pilots or private pilots: As soon as you feel uncomfortable tell this ATC immediately and in clear, short sentences! Make it clear: Until here and no further. It is YOU that MUST tell ATC, enough now of missed approaches or changing runways or giving absurd landing runways with absurd crosswinds, i am UNABLE to FOLLOW. I would like to share something with all of you: I was once on approach to an Airport which normally did not get that type of aircraft we flew in this day. It was a summer day which started sunny but the weather forecast from the morning showed already a large thunderstorm front arriving from the west and crossing the country in the afternoon in an easterly direction. So, while on approach to this airport, we monitored ATC and there was a small PA28 with a pilot and 1 passenger that just had taken off from ED.. and the VFR departure route let him fly out to the north sea, where he came in contact with this front. The pilot then stated he can not follow the route as he would become IFR and he is not IFR rated. He then said he needs to turn around and request radar vectors as his horizontal visibility became zero and all he had left was vertical visibility, but the ocean below him with the humid air above washed out any reference point for him. He then wanted to return to the airport, that's when ATC stated, because of us on approach, and the rule here is IFR before VFR , they need to vector him out to the ocean again to make space for us IFR traffic. The pilot stated he doesn't want to go further out to the ocean as he has no more reference points. I could clearly listen to his voice and i felt his concerns and that he just wanted to go back to the airport and ATC could do anything else then keep him away from us. As ATC had to follow their procedures and the pilot did not know how to handle all this right now i was sure this could have led into a nightmare. In the meanwhile we approached 2500 feet AGL and i called for "Gear Down", then looked at my first officer and we both knew we had to do something. I pressed the transmit button on my control column and said: " D-E..., declare an emergency! NOW! Dont ask, do it,NOW!" ..1 second later: " XXX Tower, D-E... is declaring an emergency " . Immediately ATC took their actions : " airline-callsign, go around, climb and maintain, proceed to .... enter holding at .... " then " D-E..., fly heading ...., RWY ..., number one, cleared to land". We left our hold after a very short time and then started our approach again and landed. The airport was kinda small for our aircraft and we parked on the apron. I could see the PA28 from my seat, the piper was parked left to us, maybe 100 m away. The pilot was standing next to his aircraft and looked at me. We both looked at each other. This was a moment i will never forget in my life. He didn't look happy at all and i knew i have to talk to him. We shut down our engines and after finishing the checklist i left the cockpit and squeezed through our deboarding passengers, taking the stairs down and went over to the Piper. The pilot was really young, 21 years, and he came into my direction with tears in his eyes saying " i am so sorry ".. I took him in my arms and answered " Stop, Stop, Stop, you did everything right" and i have to admit because of him crying i also had a tear in my eyes .I told him: " i am so glad you made it back , i am really glad seeing you here! " . After he calmed down, He looked at our aircraft and said: " What a beautiful aircraft, one day i want to become a captain in this". I offered him and his passenger, a friend of him,to come with me and i will show them the cockpit. It was quite a nice view, his Piper PA28 next to our ......Boeing 747-400. I am 56 years old, Captain on the Boeing 747-400 and 747-8i and have 23000+ flight hours logged. I am glad that this pilot got the chance to add one more landing to his log book. A chance the lady here did not have anymore. Rest in peace, that's what i really wish the occupants of the Cirrus aircraft.

Such a polite and friendly lady. Breaks my heart she didn't make it.

When you absolutely, positively, have to get somewhere on a schedule never - ever - take your aircraft. That was my dad's rule and after he passed and I inhereted his Cherokee I keep this rule close to my heart.

As a student pilot this sounds like absolute hell to deal with.

I was totally saturated with too much information just watching this imagine how stressed this pilot became after all these go-arounds re sequencing would have been the best

I am an Australian private pilot and have also flown in the United States.When i saw this video it sent chills through my body. This young lady was treated so badly i was in disbelief. This event was so simple to solve. The 737 should have been instructed to go around. The cirrus would have landed safely. What a tragedy that could have been avoided.My thoughts and prayers of the cirrus are with me always.

That was some really crappy controlling! I say this as a retired controller of 31 years.

I remember my first flight instructor say : "when you crash, the folks in the tower get another cup of coffee". Not meant to be insulting or degrading, just matter of fact.

Man, as a private pilot, this is EXACTLY the examples and 'conversations' that need to be had... to save lives. Thank you ASI! Please keep them coming as you are helping me become a better private pilot for sure!

This reminds me of driving a Mini Cooper on a 4 lane highway, surrounded by massive semi trucks all doing 100mph, trying to cross lanes to get to an exit you know is coming up but can't even see. Stuff of nightmares. Poor lady pilot. She was trying to keep so calm.

As a young civilian pilot I never questioned a controller. However, as a Student Naval Aviator I unlearned that bad habit quickly. On my first dual cross country I was given vectors by a civilian controller to re-sequence for traffic behind me during my approach. I was behind in the cockpit (which, I am sure, is why the re-sequence) and I was about to acknowledge when I was cut off by my instructor, "Negative tower. We are fine right where we are." That was the moment of my flying career when I learned what it really means to be PIC.

This just broke my heart. May those three unfortunate victims rest in peace.

"I'll just land on the nearest interstate highway ,I'll figure out the heading on my own."52 gulf over.

Imagine being that family member fighting cancer, to then hear your family that were coming to visit you, have died in a plane crash. That has to be the worst second hand guilt anyone could face, thinking that if they didn't have cancer their family would still be alive...

If only we had the opportunity to do things over again. RIP to her, she sounded like a class act.

I’ve been flying for 23 years and I’ve never heard such conflicting and confusing instructions from a class B airport tower. I’ve learned over the years that airfields have a like minded mentality amongst it’s controllers. That’s due to their respective leadership. And good leadership results in good training. And I heard bad training here. Yes they know how to move Southwest planes around, but they clearly struggle with keeping GA in sequence. I’ve never flown into KHOU but I’m going to do extra homework for it in case I do.

As soon as ATC said “Turn left heading 30 degrees,” I was wondering if he meant to turn left by 30 degrees or if he meant to fly the heading of 30 degrees. He did say “heading 30 degrees” so I assumed he meant to fly heading 30, just like the pilot did. Not cool ATC, not cool at all.

When started flying out of Scottsdale airport my instructor told me. Remember. The tower will sometimes try and fly you into the mountains. Don’t do it. Start your turn and tell them. Your turning.

Petition to make declaring an emergency due to “pilot fatigue because I’m tired of your bullshit” part of regulations.

I once had a veteran U.S. Navy pilot tell me, "Everyone on the ground is trying to kill you." And it did sound as if she was trying to be pleasing, and cooperative. She probably should have just gone to an alternate, less hectic airport (if possible).

Controller fatigued the pilot with needless relentless bombardment of orders in an obvious high-stress situation. Send her out--way out--to reset herself. She's not a fighter pilot.

I'm here staring at my computer, with a clear graphic representation of everything, and all the communications printed out, and no one's life on the line, and I still felt easily overwhelmed by what was being asked and amended. I can only imagine how much worse it must have been for the pilot in this situation.

I, as others have mentioned, was exasperated by all the changes, trying to keep them straight. Each time increased my stress and I'm just sitting here listening to it! Reminds me of that game when you spin around making yourself dizzy and trying to do some sort of task while disoriented! I think she should have been allowed to land the first time, particularly since she was not at fault for being too slow when landing - that was on ATC...

As a controller (former) for 23 years, I noticed immediately the controller errors. Most controllers are not aware of the multi tasking that goes on for a single pilot aircraft. My Navy experience of working fighter aircraft gave me that perspective. I have worked a 747 British Airways jet with a bomb threat. Private jets with fires on board, fighter jets that lost an engine. Pressure failures. One of the most important things a controller can do is to give the pilot a chance to get their bearings. These controllers made the first mistake in under estimating the speed differences between the small plan and the 737's. Stationed in Iceland, I often worked helicopters on final with F4's on 15 mile final. Even then it was close. Asking a small plane to keep its speed up as long as possible on final is not a good request as it is the most critical part of the flight. The use of heading and 30 degrees was not prescribe phraseology and this was totally on the controller. This most likely caused the pilot disorientation. Of course the pilot wanted to comply as she seemed to feel she was the burden. In fact, I feel the controller mismanaged their role and in started badly and ended worse. Both were found to be at fault correctly. But the first approach she was lined up and the controller catered to the airline who was second on final and took the private aircraft around. This was most likely due to pressure from the airlines to keep the traffic on time. Something that no one wants to admit. Each aircraft has the right to land. You are in order. First come first serve. It seems that the controller disregarded that and gave priority to airline traffic over general aviation. That's political not practical. It might be annoying for the airlines, but they blame weather on ATC so deal with. The job of controllers is the safe, expeditious movement of aircraft. Not favoring one over the other. 99.9 percent of the pilots I worked with (5 Years Navy-17 ZJAX Center) were amazing and professional. As a pastor, I would rather listen to your complaint than do your funeral. Keep it safe out there.

Tower is the problem here. I've NEVER heard so many conflicting orders. The Cirrus pilot is a saint.

I am a new PPL and I used this situation for two flight practices. 1. Crossing the controls properly and learning to decrease altitude quickly and safely. 2. Learning to assert myself if the controller asks me to do a manouver that is outside safety margins.

Wow! So sad. I’ve watched maybe 20 of these things and they are extremely well written, well thought out and narrated. I don’t ever plan to fly a plane but i am really amazed at how complex it is. I am from a medical background and the principles, especially related to surgery and anaesthesia are very similar. And catastrophic results are more often than not, a combination of errors......not just one error.

I knew the moment you said it was a Cirrus I knew it was this incident. This incident haunts me. In my opinion this pilot was so distracted and trying to please the controller.

Experience ATC prejudice to small aircraft daily. When flying for my income, in larger aircraft, I am treated normally. When getting into my PA28 to fly home after work, (from the same airport) the the tone of the controllers (to stay safe, think "coordinators") is different. Have been given the runaround as recently as yesterday. This would max out the abilities of a low time pilot who believes that ATC are in charge. ATC does good work. They will sometimes try to kill you. I think of ATC as my best friend....but he is drunk and has the hots for my wife, so I watch him every minute.

This one gave me chills. I’m fatigued from listening to the Tower, and my anxiety level kicked up with every go-around.

The reason they were flying to Houston was to visit a relative undergoing cancer treatments -- probably a pretty high baseline of stress right there.

My stress levels went through the roof listening to this. Why on earth would you clear her with a 737 right behind her? I get so tired of controllers treating GA like a nuisance that they are obligated to deal with. Then came all the nonsensical further orders that would have turned a lot of people’s spacial orientation around. Get her away from the airport in a straight forward fashion, ascertain if she’s fuel critical the sequence her in on a stabilized approach. God damn I’m pissed.

Controllers always give the big boys priority and that's fine and one needs to train for this. I believe the biggest mistake was accepting runway 35. Tailwind and crosswind. She should have declined 35 but she was trying so hard to follow atc thinking they were helping her. RIP.

I was disoriented watching it on my computer I can only imagine being in the Cirrus, too many go-arounds and putting the plane on a runway with a difficult crosswind was the cause of the accident, end of the case

I am writing this comment as a pilot myself. I was blessed to be taught by pilots who had plenty of time as PIC. One of them was a combat pilot in his previous life as was an istructor as his retirement job. My father ended up being licensed years after me but with different instructors. I bring this up because there is a difference in how to communicate with controllers and how we view our relationship to ATC. My instructors stressed that the pilot is the one in charge. Over and over they stressed that lesson. It is so important that pilots have that deeply ingrained in their training. YOU are in charge. Know your limits and assert yourself. The controllers in this situation did not purposely do anything wrong, nor were they wildly out of norms. However, situation put the pilot out of her safe zone. She should have recognized that. Safety is above all, do not be afraid to speak up and demand a different course of action and do not be afraid to ask for help or even some extra time and separation. I promise you, when you get back on the ground your fellow pilots will applaud your decision making and ability to know and operate within your limits. No one will make you feel bad or fault you. This accident was an avoidable tragedy and I wish we could go back in time and reassure her and prepare her for this kind of situation. To all of you new pilots out there, respect is earned through self awareness and safety, not daring! Sorry for the long post. I wish everyone out there safe and fun flight. Learn something from this to prove that these people's deaths were not in vain.

I am amazed that there did not come a time when landing the Cirrus became a priority. First one controller, then another that took his place, seemed to think the Cirrus had all the time in the world to be jerked this way and that. Neither controller cared one wit about getting that Cirrus down safely and timely.

I could hear in the controllers' voices that they were impatient with the pilot. I think she could hear that also.

If only the rest of the world was as thoughtful and thorough in their evaluations of complicated circumstances as the folks who put out these videos. Kudos!

I am overloaded just listening to these exchanges.

Polite and accommodating to the end of her life. Damn.

Back around 1971 I was a student at FIT (Florida Tech). I already had my PPL and so did my best buddy. Anyway, we flew a Piper Cherokee from Melbourne Fl. to Key West. While on final approach the tower told me there was an Airliner approaching fast on my tail. Since I was ahead of him I had the first right to land. However, I was approaching at about 80 kts and the airliner was approaching somewhere around 150 kts. The tower did not direct me to go around because I had landing priority. But the tower obviously didn't want to see 150 passengers panic on a go-around. So the tower asked me: "Cherokee 12345 would you mind going around, there is a jet behind you that will have to go around if you don't". I simply said to the tower, "No problem" and I executed a go around. Then the Captain of the airliner got on frequency and said to the tower. "please thank that pilot, I knew one of us would have to go around and I'm glad it was him and not me". I'm still glad I used my discretion and thought of all the people on board that jet. After all, I was a new pilot and the go-around practice was good for me. I was glad to hear the relief in the Captain's voice. I'll never forget that day. But it seems in the above case the tower didn't consider that the landing traffic, the Cirrus, had the first legal right to land. Just because a faster airplane with lots of people on board does not mean the closer airplane has to give up her right to land. I guess things have changed over the years.

Becoming a Pilot myself, with my Dad being a DPE and one of my brothers being a CFII/MEI, watching this hurts so much. So many lessons to take from this awful situation.

This story continues to break my heart every time I recall it. I'm not a licensed pilot but I have worked in the aviation industry nearly all my life. Although the crash occurred because the pilot lost control of the aircraft, everything that led up to that point was directly attributed to the poor directions given to her by ATC. I think the ATC items should be on the TOP of the list, not the bottom. Had she been allowed to maintain her initial decent and land on the runway she was already cleared for, we'd have three people still alive today.

What this video failed to mention is the unforgiving stall characteristic of the cirrus aircraft. On a bad day it will take you by surprise. There has been too many accidents in the patern with cirrus aircraft even with experienced flight Instructors. I love the aircraft but i think its made for straight in approaches rather than safe slow flight characteristics that are found in other aircrafts. God rest her soul and comfort her family.

How god damn frustrating to listen to. “Proficiency is somewhat subjective” that goes for the ATC too. 😞

This bothers me everytime I see it. The Cirrus was cleared to land. That should have been it. The 737 should have been sent around.

I learned to fly from day 1 at Hobby airport. I can tell you the controllers are experts at fitting fast jets and small airplanes into the same airport at the same time. On the 2nd go around she should have requested a divert to Ellington which is literally 5mins away from Hobby with none of the busy commercial jet traffic. It is very doable to squeeze into Hobby in between the stream of Southwest 737's, but you need to be on your A-game.

The value of these videos cannot be overstated enough. Thank you

This video should be shown to every new pilot taking PPL training.

I learned long ago early in my flight instruction, that if I ever got confused or stressed with air traffic control, to bail out and tell them I wanted to leave their air space and start over. Unless restricted by fuel or severe weather, it's easier and safer to get out, take a deep breath and reorient yourself. This pilot was too nice. She should have told them she was getting confused with the multiple and differing instructions she was getting and wanted to start over. The controllers were more worried about getting her on the ground and out of their way. She was more worried about not upsetting the controllers which is why she (needlessly) apologized for the confusion. The confusion that the controllers created! Remember, pilots, you have lives to worry about. The controllers have schedules to worry about. If you mess up their schedule, they'll eventually get over it. You only have one life. Speak up and stay alive.

I am based at KIWS, 20+ miles NW of KHOU. I did a lot of Angel Flights picking up and flying patients to KHOU. Many times I had to "make doughnuts" around the pattern to find the little window of opportunity... but I stopped doing it since it would take me sometimes up to 35+ minutes to fly from KIWS to KHOU... pus the time later to get out of there. Landing at Bravo airspace is an incredibly good learning experience... but not to do regularly in small aircraft. After many experiences like this, I decided to pick and deliver at KIWS... a shorter and faster drive for my passengers... than flying there. I vividly remember my first landing at KHOU...a strong headwind had my, then Cessna 172, doing close to ~45 knots and ATC asking me to speed up or I would have to do a 180 since I had a 737 behind... now I am smiling... not then!

I PERSONALLY GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CONTROLLER MADE HER FEEL NERVOUS AND THAT SHE WAS BEING A BIT OF A PAIN. HE SOUNDED IMPATIENT AT CERTAIN POINTS

I've studied this accident many times over the previous two years since it happened, this is the absolute best explanation for all of the factors of causation. Well done AOPA! I'm renewing my membership today! (Besides I want the flight bag too! LOL). The community needs more of these videos. Keep up the good work!

I’m only a RU-vid pilot but I think my preference would be to find a smaller, quieter, airport at the destination. Let the big guys have Hobby and call Uber.

After listening to many ATC videos recently, my first impression was how demanding the situation was and how compliant and cooperative the Cirrus pilot was, so it was saddening to hear that a contributing factor to this tragedy was the pilot's lack of assertiveness. Stress and pressure have such a huge impact on outcome.

This is what happens when you let the tower call the shots rather then telling them what you need.

My instructor gave me the greatest advice ever, no matter how many years I had flown. When landing at an unfamiliar, at night or a busy airport, contact the controller inform them that I'm a student pilot, works like a charm.

I can understand how stressful the situation for the pilot just listening to what the ATC told her.

This is the classic ego of every “big” airport controller

I feel like this could've all been avoided if the controller sent the 737 around rather that the Cirrus on the 1st approach. She was already cleared to land as number 2 and made first contact before the 3rd 737. The FAA makes it very clear the ATC is not priority based but first come first serve. Just because the 737 is bigger and more important in the controllers eyes, he/she should've been instructed to go around

Thank you for doing these. Learning from others mistakes is a way of using these sad tragedies for good.

So tragic. That woman sounded so articulate and intelligent. Through all of the communication and changes to her landing from the controllers she became distracted from monitoring her air speed.

Exactly. Be assertive. Let them know you’re not comfortable and do as advised but not so much as to make yourself completely uncomfortable and overwhelmed.

Why not send the 737 around? The Cirrus was before them.

I had a similar stressful landing a few years ago. The stress was high and landing my 172B with an 18 mph crosswind was less than ideal as a student pilot. My ATC was much more helpful and kept communication very simple.

If anyone (esp ppl) is watching this and thinking about flying to Houston, please please consider one of the many GA airports we have! ATC in Houston does a fantastic job, However, there are many more GA friendly airports close to hobby. (KLVJ, T41, KEDC etc) Hobby is great, others are easier. As many others have said, this video is hard to stomach. Prayers to the family.

Wow I wish air safety institute could review my days, id be the most productive perfect human ever! I love how the reviews cover EVERYTHING its so good. From tones, to pressure, they know it all

This tragedy makes me so angry. I know its easy looking back in hindsight but I feel the controllers were trying to fly the aircraft for her. She needed clear simple instructions rather than all these long wordy transmissions from the controllers. I feel her pain.

There are many links in this accident chain of events. The first one that I noticed (and it was never mentioned) is that approach control didn't provide the proper sequencing to allow more spacing for the slower GA aircraft. Next is the controller's constantly changing and confusing instructions. Next is the pilot should have said "unable" when given a runway with a crosswind component of 15 knots and a tailwind too. She probably didn't do the math in the air that quickly, and assumed the controller knew. Most controllers are NOT pilots. In the end, the pilot retracted the flaps too early and created a stall situation without enough altitude to recover. Granted this was due to pressure and task overload. She didn't prioritize and "fly the airplane" first. Ultimately the pilot in command has the SOLE responsibility for the safety of the flight. I remember reading this in the regs many years ago.

Watching these makes me grateful for all the great pilots and safe flights I have had.

This is an excellent analysis of the complex set of circumstances surrounding this accident.

Jesus, I get chills and some bad vibes watching these videos when something so avoidable like that happens

Unfortunate outcome, I teach in class C tower and it sometimes gets busy with corporate jets and sometimes runway use changes (19/01 and 32/14) back and forth within hours. I always tell my students, if the controller starts confusing you and has you changing runway assignments and you don't quite know how, and fuel permits, just tell them that you are going to leave the traffic pattern and then come back in. This way my student can re-orient themselves and mentally prepare for the approach and landing. It is like starting over as if they are returning from the practice area or flight. Works everytime. Also use the words student pilot when you get completely flustered, even when you are ATP rated. The controller doesn't know your rating or skill but using those words will put the controller in a different mind set. I.e. Shorter instructions, kid glove approach, etc. It works wonders. Of course Unable also works well.

Thank you for sharing and especially for lot of great people comments - big lesson.

This tragedy has haunted me for years, so very sad. I've often wondered of the pilot's decision in choosing Hobby over non-towered Houston/Southwest airport (KAXH) - here, the wind was blowing right down the runway that day, and I'd be surprised if there were more than a handful of GA aircraft in the pattern (if any at all). In addition, there was an easy-to-get-to source of 100LL, at least two rental car agencies, and the usual ride-sharing options. Near as I can tell, it was basically the same distance to the hospital as Hobby was. I'll never understand the desire to mix it up with the big irons...

So sad! U can hear the confusion and fear in her voice! Her confidence was definitely lost with every turnaround! Rip

I just took my first flying lesson 2 days ago and this scares the crap out of me! This woman sounded like she knew what she was doing and had good hours in the Cirrus. I'm sure there's a lot for me to learn, but I think I'm going to be a very conservative pilot and don't plan to land any where near airports with heavy airliner traffic. Lastly, I would have turned left to 30 degrees as well.

Thank you so much! Great movie! Can learn so much from it about flying, but also about crisis management.

Thank you very much for the report. Very clear and informative. Hearing this my head becomes grey, but very good to know about fatigue lack of management

The NTSB is so damn good. They get it right over and over and over again.

I think that the lesson from this accident is to realise it when you're getting in over your head and to say so to air traffic control without apology.

11:33 Jesus. 😧 What an absolutely horrific way to go. RIP to all those passed.

OMG! This was frustrating just from a viewers perspective, I can only imagine how stressful it was to live It, all while trying to keep your calm and probably having to dictate what's going on to her passengers, because I'm sure they must have been confused as to why they have to keep flying around the airport and not landing.

This sounds like a clusterf*ck

These videos are fantastic. This is the first one where I feel so sorry for the pilot and pax. The others are pilots being totally reckless mostly, this lady, just trying to do what she is told until the workload and stress trying to land at a busy airport and being dicked around by controllers caused her to make a mistake. Those ATC instructions were ridiculous. Understand, most ATC are not pilots, they have different goals and priorities to the pilots. I'm a 10,000 hour plus commercial pilot and so what if one of the 37s had to go around. Good practice for them! This lady would still be alive....

That was an excellent case study. Tragic end but a significant learning tool for the rest of us. Yes, following complex ATC/tower instructions can be a bit much sometimes. Very sorry this one ended the way it did but I hope all of us who are pilots will learn valuable lessens from this event. God bless this woman and her family. This one is tough and all to realistic. Task saturation can and does happen all to quickly.

I remember on my solo flight in a Cessna 150 at Long Beach, CA my instructor and I had done a few touch and goes and he decided I was good to go. He told me to go out to the practice area over the ocean and practice a few stalls, turns and come back in. Of course I was very nervous so I went offshore pretty much flew straight and level and decided it was time to come back. I entered the downwind leg. At that time Douglas Aircraft was situated at Long beach Airport and they flight tested the new aircraft there. I was proceeding downwind when the tower told me to make an immediate right hand turn out of the pattern as a DC-9 was coming in front of me on the bisecting runway. I managed it but I will always remember how nervous I was!

I've listened to this a few more times in the last few days and I gotta say, the controller on the horn following the first go-around was a mess. In the same set of calls he tells her to fly RW heading (40) and then in a few, to turn right to 35 -DW...then tells her she needs to keep the turn all the way through into 35-BASE but to be aware of the 7-3 on short final. Then literally after she reads back - and clearly she's trying to figure out WTF he really means - he comes back and says yeah...start your turn to 35-DW now...following it immediately with "I will call your 35-BASE now..." Seriously dude - WTF...If you're gonna actually tell a pilot ambiguous\conflicting information - let alone in the same set of calls - you MUST tell them "cancel that"or "belay that"...something to help frame and clarify what the hell you're intending... I'm not going back on my previous statements about her culpability here but that notwithstanding, this one particular ATC controller was a serious mess...he actually sounded like he was rattled himself in trying to handle a Cirrus in the same airspace as a 7-3

I wonder what kind of idiots are giving thumbs down to a thoroughly researched, well-produced and extremely valuable production like this.

She sounded like she had a beautiful soul and coped well with the chaos. Tragic. Her beauty exemplified by her last comments, "third times a charm."

Wow, this was too intense. I'm so sorry for the lady and others...😢

A lot of accidents in SR20s and SR22s go down like this. The aircraft has a significant tendency to experience uncommanded roll in turning stalls, which has killed many an inattentive pilot in the pattern. Yes, it's the pilot's error in the end, but Cirrus pilots do need to be very aware of this tendency and practice avoiding spins more intensely than in other, more stable aircraft.

She had such a soothing voice. So sad💔

Gosh man. Total information overload

RIP to those 3 and condolences to their loved ones. I especially feel for the cancer patient that were flying over to see. Great vid, I learned alot about PIC. I was very surprised the ATC kept giving her the go-arounds instead of sending her back to Approach.

Always makes me uneasy hearing "keep it tight".

Man, this is such a sad incident. Great work by the ASI (as always) -- makes me proud to be an AOPA member. I don't want to Monday morning quarterback, but it irks me that the controller sent the Cirrus around first instead of the 737 behind it. Airline traffic doesn't (read: shouldn't) get priority over GA.

I'm not in aviation, but a workplace health and safety trainer. Replace the roles of pilot and air control with employee and boss, and you a window into the dynamic of many workplaces. This video therefore makes great study material, for anyone interested in the conditions that lead to serious accidents, at all levels.

Super interesting series!