Risk Management Magazine

The night’s task was an AH-64D Readiness Level 3 progression local area operation including as many night and night vision system (NVS) base tasks we could complete within our three-hour period of instruction. This was our fourth flight together as a crew. Our three previous missions, flown during the day with an hour of hood training, went smoothly.

After spending six years in Alaska, I thought winter driving at Fort Drum, New York, would be a snap. After all, I’d seen my share of accidents and figured I was prepared for anything. It only took a week to show me I was wrong.

Our SP and commander decided the best place for me was on one of our night shifts at a time of day when the enemy was less active, allowing me to get more experience before throwing me into the fray. It was on one of these early morning flights that I nearly killed us.