Brasher Warning

A routine infiltration mission. A highly experienced crew. A cutting-edge aircraft. So what went so horribly wrong?

In this gripping episode of Brasher Warning, we dissect the harrowing crash of a CV-22B Osprey during a special operations mission in Afghanistan. Using the Official Accident Investigation Report, we unravel the series of compounding factors—misjudged weather conditions, high-speed approach errors, cockpit overload, a...

What happens when overconfidence meets oversight? In this episode of Brasher Warning, we unravel the tragic January 30, 2002, crash of a Velocity aircraft near Miramar, California. Despite advanced onboard technology, this devastating accident was caused by something as simple—and preventable—as poor fuel management.

Discover how a critical reliance on an uncalibrated wooden stick for a fuel check set off a chain of errors, from di...

In this gripping episode of Brasher Warning, we revisit the tragic 2018 crash of a Piper PA-24-260 in Scottsdale, Arizona—a flight that lasted only 70 seconds but claimed six lives. Using the NTSB’s final report and expert analysis, we unravel the deadly combination of factors: an overloaded aircraft, improper weight and balance, mechanical failure, and human decision-making.

We dive deep into how these elements collided, exploring...

What happened to Flight N4386F on that fateful summer afternoon in Mississippi? A seemingly routine flight spiraled into tragedy, leaving behind questions about decisions made under pressure, the limits of technology, and the unpredictable power of nature.

In this episode of Brasher Warning, we unravel the mystery of an in-flight breakup that shocked the aviation community. Why did a seasoned pilot end up in the middle of a thunder...

What happens when overconfidence meets poor decision-making? On November 9, 2014, a Learjet 35A operated by Diplomat Aviation (Bahamas) Ltd. crashed during its second approach to Freeport International Airport in Grand Bahama. The result: nine lives lost, and a chain of failures that shook the aviation community.

In this pulse-pounding episode of Brasher Warning, we dive into the troubling details of this avoidable tragedy. Discove...

What happens when safety takes a back seat to urgency? On January 29, 2019, a Survival Flight helicopter air ambulance mission turned tragic when a Bell 407 helicopter, N191SF, crashed into forested terrain near Zaleski, Ohio. With the loss of three lives—the pilot, a flight nurse, and a paramedic—this heartbreaking incident revealed critical gaps in risk management, weather decision-making, and organizational safety culture.

In th...

What happens when a tiny design flaw nearly becomes a catastrophic failure? In this gripping episode of Brasher Warning, we explore the harrowing events of June 12, 1972, when American Airlines Flight 96, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, suffered a cargo door failure shortly after takeoff. The resulting rapid decompression caused severe structural damage and left the crew with limited control of the aircraft.

Through quick thinking and e...

In this episode of Brasher Warning, we unravel the tragic story of the December 17, 2000, crash of a Beech BE-23 near Rolla, Missouri, which claimed the life of its pilot. This in-depth discussion explores the key findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, focusing on the insidious role of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a fractured and oxidized muffler.

We break down the chain of events leadin...

On October 14, 2004, a repositioning flight for Pinnacle Airlines pushed the limits of aviation—and paid a devastating price. What should have been a simple journey from Little Rock to Minneapolis turned into a chilling tragedy when both engines flamed out mid-flight, leaving the Bombardier CRJ-200 plummeting toward Jefferson City, Missouri.

In this gripping episode, we unravel the story of Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701, where two ...

On May 31, 2014, a Gulfstream G-IV corporate jet prepared for a routine evening departure from Laurence G. Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts. But moments after attempting takeoff, the jet careened off the end of the runway, bursting into flames in a nearby ravine. All seven aboard perished, leaving investigators to piece together a shocking trail of errors and missed warnings.

This episode explores the chilling findings of th...

In January 1969, United Air Lines Flight 266, a Boeing 727, embarked on a routine journey from Los Angeles International Airport. But within moments of takeoff, a cascade of electrical failures turned a steady ascent into a tragic high-speed plunge into the Pacific Ocean, claiming the lives of all 38 aboard.

This episode explores the painstaking investigation that followed, revealing how a combination of mechanical malfunctions, pr...

A calm November evening in 1996 was shattered by a horrifying mid-air collision above Charkhi-Dadri, India. A Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan IL-76, both carrying hundreds of souls, crossed paths in a sequence of tragic miscommunications and failures. The result? A catastrophe that claimed 349 lives and shook the aviation world to its core.

In this episode, we unravel the intricate investigation that followed. Discover ho...

On a serene morning in San Diego, under crystal-clear skies with ten-mile visibility, two aircraft unknowingly hurtled toward a catastrophic fate. September 25, 1978, was supposed to be a routine day for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) Flight 182, a Boeing 727 carrying 128 passengers and seven crew members on its final approach to Lindbergh Field. Nearby, a Cessna 172, engaged in a training exercise, ascended steadily. The two air...

On a fateful afternoon in September 2006, two aircraft embarked on what should have been routine journeys over the vast and isolated expanse of the Amazon rainforest. One, a Boeing 737 packed with 148 passengers and six crew members, belonged to Gol Airlines, cruising smoothly towards Rio de Janeiro. The other, a sleek and powerful Embraer Legacy 600 jet, was on a ferry flight from São José dos Campos, carrying just five passengers...

In our 4th episode, we examine the tragic crash of Germanwings Flight 9525. On March 24, 2015, the Airbus A320 was deliberately flown into the French Alps by its co-pilot, leading to the heartbreaking loss of 150 lives. We explore the sequence of events, the co-pilot’s mental health struggles, and how this tragedy forced the aviation industry to confront critical safety gaps.

Key Highlights:

• A Deliberate Descent: The episode de...

On a serene summer day in 1986, the skies over Cerritos, California, became the setting for an unimaginable catastrophe. Aeromexico Flight 498, a bustling passenger DC-9, was nearing its destination at Los Angeles International Airport, while a private Piper PA-28 aircraft ascended nearby, piloted under visual flight rules. What should have been a routine journey for both aircraft turned tragic in seconds as their paths intersected...

On a warm July evening in 1999, a private Piper Saratoga PA-32R-301 departed New Jersey’s Caldwell Airport on a seemingly routine flight to Martha's Vineyard. But as the plane approached its destination, the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean would become the stage for a tragic turn of events.

This episode investigates the ill-fated journey of N9253N, piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr., alongside his wife and sister-in-law. Without an i...

In the predawn hours of July 2, 2021, Transair Flight 810, a Boeing 737-200 cargo plane, took off from Honolulu bound for Maui. What began as a routine flight swiftly spiraled into chaos when the right engine suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after takeoff. Despite their efforts to return to the airport, the pilots faced the unthinkable: a nighttime emergency landing in the vast Pacific Ocean.

This episode dives into the harr...

On January 26, 2020, the world stood still as news broke of a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine people, including basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. The Sikorsky S-76B, operated by Island Express Helicopters, was on a routine charter flight from Orange County to Camarillo when it plunged into the rugged terrain of Calabasas, California.

This episode unpacks the tragic series of events, from the pi...