Confirmation bias ... perhaps? Air Canada near disaster at KSFO one month ago

Started by Live2Learn, August 07, 2017, 05:43:56 PM

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Live2Learn

https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Air-Canada-Flight-Misses-By-Four-Feet-229456-1.html  As most investigations go this seems fairly transparent and moving along.  It looks like the Captain of the Air Canada Airbus was only nano seconds from his family cashing in on his life insurance, if only until the wrongful death suits hit.  Some might argue that the Airbus' arrested descent at just 4 feet above a 787 on the taxiway was nothing short of divine intervention.  Here's the current status of the investigation:  https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA17IA148.aspx

I've experienced confirmation bias too.  I once lined up with a highway next to my destination airport (both were well lit, but the highway was in the 'perfect' location to grab my attention first.  I think I would have realized the error of my ways (tail lights are a bit different than runway lights, and I like to fly a pattern so would have had an unambiguous view of traffic that would be difficult to rationalize away), but still it was a teachable moment for me.

This will be an interesting incident investigation when the final report hits the NTSB website in a year or three.