Lessons Learned From Aircraft Accidents (1967)

[Music] [Music] t emotions emotional problems tension anxiety mental strain these words seem to be very common they're used much more today than they were 50 years ago because our daily life has changed very radically in those 50 years not so very long ago life was relatively Placid tranquil and calm no great emotional strain today today we are living in the midst of the greatest social and Technical change ever to take place in the history of mankind the demands of our daily life put an emotional strain on all of us hurry worry deadlines to meet bills to pay when our minds become too preoccupied with too many of these problems we can easily become the star performer in an accident here's an example of how easily emotional problems or worries could lead to an accident most of us have had this experience at one time or [Music] another sir you just run through a stop sign two blocks back me I did yes sir that fellow in the black car hadn't been on the ball you might have killed him I see your license and registration please I don't know why I did it I've stopped at that sign 100 times I guess my mind just wasn't on my driving I must have been thinking about something else right he was thinking of something else perhaps married life isn't turning out right his new wife isn't adjusting to Army life or perhaps his wife is in the hospital with a complicated pregnancy could be his first child or his mother or father is seriously ill or it may be a financial problem perhaps a new boat and motor he wishes he hadn't bought now that he has unexpected overseas orders these are the kinds of emotional problems we're concerned about if that Aviator had been flying with something on his mind he could just as easily have failed to realize that his oil pressure was falling rapidly but the distracting problems which cause accidents aren't always grim and unpleasant I I drove the first car I ever owned into a tree while daydreaming about an upcoming date with a blonde High School senior but that was a lucky accident I wasn't hurt seriously and I learned a lifelong lesson don't Daydream while driving or flying in the files of the army board for aviation accident research there are a number of accidents which have been traced directly to emotional causes flight surgeons are the experts for the Army on the emotional aspects of accidents Colonel fiser is such an expert let's see what we can learn from him good morning major good morning sir we're interested in how emotional problems can cause accidents that's an important subject for aviators I thought you might review some of the cases we've had did you have any particular accident in mind yes sir I was going to ask about the case we were discussing last week the accident in which Lieutenant Webster was killed in an O age 23 that's right sir it's an excellent example of emotional causes because it's one of the few cases we've been able to definitely nail down as positively caused by the distraction of an emotional upset you see accident investigators May suspect that an emotional disturbance is at least partially responsible for an accident but rarely do they have sufficient proof to even mention it in the reports in this investigation we made a thorough study into the background of the aviator who was killed we did this because of one fact which was agreed upon by all of the eyewitnesses when his engine failed at an altitude of about 2,000 ft Lieutenant Webster apparently did not take any emergency action the aircraft lost rotor RPM crashed and burned why would a Aviator do this he must have panicked just froze on the controls yes but why to try to learn why we delved into Webster's background his family his personality his problems Webster was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters he was the family favorite and they were a warm stable and closely knit group Webster was a very independent person when he made a decision he stuck to it sometimes even after he'd been proven wrong this stubbornness was probably the the cause of Webster's first real problem Webster was divorced several years before the accident but he stayed in contact with his former wife he also made several attempts at reconciliation and I have to get a few new things for David and Cassie how are the kids Mar oh they're fine bill I wish I could see them well you can anytime bill you know that I wish I could see you too Martha bill please give up I told you the last time no definitely no now if you don't drop the subject I'm going to hang up Martha I've learned my lesson I'm a changed guy Bill you're just as bullheaded as you ever were or you just wouldn't keep trying the frustration of these rejections was difficult for Webster to [Music] take and after each rejection he burst out aggressively at anyone who disagreed with him after several years of frustration he found another girl but the circumstances of his courtship took a heavy toll on his energy the girl worked as an Entertainer in a nightclub more than 60 miles from his post anything else no nothing else okay Bill I'm worried about you you shouldn't be driving in every night to meet me that's nice don't you want to see me sure I want to see you when do you get any sleep sleep I get four or five hours before I drive in every night that's enough I told you yesterday how we could solve the problem marry me Deb then I don't have to drive 120 Mi every night to see you B thought it all over like I said I would yeah well I just wouldn't fit in I'm used to theatrical life and excitement and coming and going as I please on my own you'd forget all that I know you would maybe you're right maybe I would but I'm not ready to yet bill I don't want to give it up and you don't love me I didn't say that honey we'll talk about it later who gets the sandwich I doly apparently Webster got himself into a new emotional problem that's very often the case you've noticed how trouble seems to breed more trouble it really does when you're under the strain of an emotional problem you can't think clearly or have good judgment you get into more trouble very easily was Webster on this four or 5 hour sleep routine at the time of the accident yes yes he was and he wasn't eating properly either for example on the day of the accident he had neither breakfast nor lunch it almost looks as if Webster was trying to hurt himself as a matter of fact that may be true suicide can't be ruled out as a possibility do you really think so sir not premeditated suicide we know his engine failed but perhaps when the engine quit he had an irresistible impulse you might say that suddenly he saw an Open Door through which he could escape from all of the problems which had been plaguing him I can see how that might be possible perhaps suicide never entered his conscious mind but when the emergency arose his confusion and panic were so great that he simply couldn't act to save himself what can be done about emotional problems Colonel how can we keep them from getting out of control probably the best remedy is ventilation ventilation sir yes opening up and letting some air in talking to someone frustration anger and worry cause confusion confiding in someone generally brings relief from confusion that's true my wife and I have an agreement if either of us is angry or worried about something we talk it out before we go to bed it's an excellent idea your wife is your partner she has a right to know about anything that's knowing at you and there are three other people who have a direct responsibility for listening to your problem and to help with them your commanding officer your chaplain and your flight surgeon we all know that's true sir but the trouble is that a man like Webster who really needs help finds it very difficult to confide in anyone you're right and that brings up another Factor cosos chaplain flight surgeons and other aviators must learn to detect the signs of emotional disturbance and take action to prevent serious trouble let me tell you of another case where there were numerous opportunities to forall the tragedy which killed an aviator this young officer started to avoid his friends and was drinking much more than [Music] usual he passed his annual physical but his flight surgeon was aware of his drinking he gave The Aviator a lecture on the obvious fact that drinking and flying don't mix but he did not ground him his Co learned of his drinking and realized that his flying efficiency was falling off he threatened him with the flying evaluation board he did not drown him not long after this he filed a VFR flight plan on a circular route to avoid severe [Music] weather 2 hours after takeoff he crashed 40 mil from his circular route and on a direct route to his destination obviously he had filed a circular route merely to obtain clearance he flew a direct route in spite of weather warnings and terrain unsuitable for emergency landing it's a shame he wasn't grounded he's Beyond grounding now beyond all help and no one even knows what it was that was tormenting him everyone with authority over aviators must realize that flying is a business that challenges your ego aviators can ground themselves but they won't do it if one of your men starts drinking too much or is grossly depressed or overly elated ground him first then lecture him if we can get that point across we' have come a long way well thank you very much sir you've pretty well wrapped up the subject for us we can sum it all up this way as an aviator you must realize that a serious emotional problem can be just as much of a hindrance to Flying as a broken arm might be those you can turn to for help are members of your own team all of them personally involved with your well-being your Co is responsible for your military capability your chaplain is responsible for your peace of mind and spiritual welfare your flight surgeon is responsible for your physical and psychological well-being these are the men you can unburden yourself to perhaps like the TV commercials we should end with a slogan you can use when you're mind jamming up talk it out don't bottle it up