Risk Management and Its Application to Air Carrier Safety

Flight 965 fromMiami crashed into a mountain on its approach to the Cali, Colombia airport.'The crash was surprising, especially considering that the pilots were experienced, familiar with the terrain, and flying a relatively new 757.2At first, officials suspected the crash might have been the result of a terrorist attack or bombing.'As the investigation unfolded, however, it became clear that the cause of Flight 965's crash would be more elusive.When the plane hit the mountain, it was thirteen miles off course.4 The Colombian government pointed to the course deviation, blaming the accident on pilot error.5 But some pilots have taken issue with the Colombian report.Two anonymous pilots criticize the report as an attempt to make the dead pilots of Flight 965 into scapegoats.One said that "It]he controller and pilot didn't understand each other, partly because of language problems... [a] nd the controller was giving clearances that made no sense because he had no radar and couldn't see the airplane."6The radar at the Cali airport was blown up by guerrillas in 1991 and was never replaced.7 Colombian officials have denied I Tapes Point to Pilot Error in Colombia Jet Crash, ARIz.REPUBLIC, Dec.