Risk Management Magazine

After three deployments to Iraq, I saw a trend developing in my unit. During the last 30 days of each deployment, we had an accident. What was causing this to happen — complacency, nerves, ego or just plain bad luck?

On the way down, I reached up and grabbed onto my little yellow handholds in the crew window. Before anyone could say anything, we were on the ground. The aircraft came down and forward for a short distance, then made a rapid turn to the left.

As an aviator, I focus strongly on completing my mission. However, I can never become so focused on one task that I let slip the other things necessary to completing the mission safely. When the mission ends, I want to climb out of an aircraft — not be dragged from its wreckage.