training flight crews in cue recognition. On April 11, 1997, the Safety Board stated that it was waiting to evaluate the FAA's revised version of AC 120-51B.
On August 3, 1998, the FAA stated that the results of its research project were outlined in a report, titled Guidelines for Situation Awareness Training, which was published in February 1998. According to the FAA, the report included an overview, specific training tips, and sample training courses for use by the aviation community. The FAA indicated that it would incorporate guidance on cue recognition training for flight crewmembers in AC 120-51B. On November 2, 1998, the Safety Board restated that it would wait to evaluate the FAA's revised version of AC 120-51B.
On December 11, 1998, the FAA stated that, on October 30, 1998, it issued AC 120-51C, "Crew Resource Management Training," a revision to AC 120-51B. The FAA stated that Appendix 3, "Appropriate CRM Training Topics," paragraph 2(m), specifically addressed training for pilots in recognizing cues that indicate lack or loss of situational awareness in themselves and others and training in countermeasures to restore that awareness. According to the FAA, paragraph 2(m) reiterates that training should emphasize the importance of recognizing each pilot's relative experience level, experience in specific duty positions, preparation level, planning level, normal communication style and level, overload state, and fatigue state. Further, the FAA stated that training should emphasize that improper procedures, adverse weather, and abnormal or malfunctioning equipment might reduce situation awareness. In addition, the FAA stated that AC 120-51B references the Guidelines for Situation Awareness Training report because of the AC's expanded guidance on cues and countermeasures.
On March 1, 1999, the Safety Board stated that the amendments to AC 120-51B, which resulted in the issuance of AC 120-51C, met the intent of this recommendation. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation A-96-106 was classified "Closed-- Acceptable Action."
1.16.3.5 Previous Controlled Flight Into Terrain Accidents Related to Nonprecision Instrument Approach Procedures
As stated in section 1.18.3.2, accident data has shown that the chances of a CFIT accident occurring during a nonprecision approach is five times greater than during a precision approach. In addition to the CFIT events discussed previously (including the USAir flight 105 incident in Kansas City, Missouri, and the American Airlines flight 965 accident in Cali, Colombia) and in section 1.18.4.4 (American Airlines flight 1572 in East Granby, Connecticut), the Safety Board has investigated the following CFIT accidents that occurred while the airplane was on a nonprecision approach:
On February 18, 1989, a Flying Tigers Boeing 747-200, operating as a cargo flight under 14 CFR Part 121, crashed while on an NDB approach to Subang International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Night visual conditions prevailed around the airport at the time of the accident. All four airplane occupants were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. The investigation into this accident was being conducted by the Department of Civil Aviation of the Government of Malaysia with the assistance of the Safety Board.
