Risk Management Magazine

On Jan. 26, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and several others were killed in an inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC) helicopter crash in Southern California. That same day, an assault company came close to suffering the same fate.

About 2330, our sleep was interrupted by a knock on the door. A Soldier from another unit was looking for me. He was clearly nervous, and his panicked demeanor immediately raised concern. He explained that his two-vehicle element, unfamiliar with the routes and disoriented by the darkness, miscalculated a turn.

As aviation professionals, we all try our very best to accomplish the mission. Sometimes, this desire to produce the best results in a minimal amount of time works against us. This article highlights an instance where my desire to get the job done in the least amount of time turned into a Class C mishap.