Scapegoat: A Flight Crew's Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption

On April 4, 1979, TWA 841, a Boeing 727, experienced an unexplained dive from 39,000 feet, narrowly avoiding a crash. The cause of the dive was initially attributed to the crew's heroic actions, but suspicion arose when the cockpit voice recorder tape was found blank. The investigation focused solely on the crew, despite evidence suggesting other factors. The NTSB ultimately blamed the crew for the incident, despite sworn testimony to the contrary, leading to the pilot's decade-long battle to clear his name.

Format: Hardback
Length: 472 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2022
Publisher: Odyssey Publishing, LLC

On April 4, 1979, a Boeing 727 with 82 passengers and a crew of 7 experienced an unexplained dive from an altitude of 39,000 feet, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic crash. The cause of this mysterious incident was the subject of one of the longest NTSB investigations at the time. Initially, the crews heroic actions were praised, but their reputation took a turn when safety inspectors discovered that twenty-one minutes of the thirty-minute cockpit voice recorder tape were blank.

The captain of the flight, Harvey "Hoot" Gibson, became the focus of suspicion as he was believed to have deliberately erased the tape to hide incriminating evidence. However, the voice recorder was never evaluated for any deficiencies, and the investigation quickly shifted its focus solely on the crew.

This investigation was based on rumors, innuendos, and speculation, with the NTSB ultimately blaming the crew for the incident by claiming that they had improperly manipulated the controls, leading to the dive. Despite sworn testimony to the contrary, the NTSB persisted in their belief, and this led to a decade-long battle for the pilot, Harvey "Hoot" Gibson, to clear his name.

The incident had a profound impact on the aviation industry, raising concerns about the reliability of cockpit voice recorders and the importance of thorough investigations. It also highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the NTSB's investigations, as well as the potential for bias and corruption within the organization.

In conclusion, the TWA 841 incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers of aviation and the importance of maintaining the highest standards of safety and investigation. The story of Harvey "Hoot" Gibson's decade-long battle to clear his name serves as a cautionary tale for all those involved in the aviation industry, and highlights the need for a fair and impartial approach to investigations.

Weight: 796g
Dimension: 163 x 236 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780997242102