Roy Halladay Crash Dissected: Drugs Were the Least Of It

On April 14th, 2020, the NTSB released the docket for the fatal crash of an Icon A5 piloted by baseball star Roy Halladay. In this video, AVweb's Paul Bertorelli comments on the docket findings.
You can find the full report on the NTSB site at tinyurl.com/y8srdpmc

[@icegiant1000]

"Your grandmother could fly under the bridge, but that doesn't mean you should." Well put.

[@mymohammad]

Is it not illegal? I don't think it allows for 500ft clearance to obstacles set by CFR.

[@robertthomas5906]

​@@mymohammad I'm familiar with that area. It's not far from Sarasota airport. Bridge on the map claims 431'. You could go over it and not be in class B, not under it and be legal. It's also dumb. You never know if someone has a cable or anything else hanging down for maintenance or some other reason.

[@inpayne]

Robert Thomas 500 feet from people or property...

[@mymohammad]

@@robertthomas5906 I'm wondering how he did it and bragged about it in social media but never got in trouble with FAA? It clearly does not meet 500ft distance from people and property.

[@Diax1324]

Exactly. It's not impressive. It just makes him look like an idiot.

[@Fresno1199]

Finally a news report that is fair to the airplane manufacturer.

[@kg4lod]

True for most manufacturers, but this one deliberately encouraged this kind of behavior with its sales and marketing tactics.

[@almilani4300]

Airplanes dont kill pilots- PILOTS KILL AIRPLANES. HOW MANY CARS ARE TO BLAME IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS?

[@alasdair4161]

@@almilani4300 Just don't answer that in supercar context...

[@robertweekley5926]

@@alasdair4161 - This was a Light Sport Aircraft, not a Supersonic Trainer, or Fighter Jet! It's no Supercar equivalent! But, his speeds of 65 Knots, was in the 'Low and Slow" regime, not suitable for any rapid Pitch ups, or pull-ups! For that, he should have been throttled up, at least cruise Speed and Power, if not full throttle. You don't "Hit Dog" at VSO 1.3 Speeds! And, it's a 'Light Sport Plane", not an Aerobatic Aircraft, as well, so limited Excess Power! So, it appears that if not that day, then another, would bite him in the A$$!

[@davejohnson8960]

@@kg4lod You mean, advertising that product ownership is about having fun?

[@zzzzzzmc]

mad props to the dad, Halliday Sr, for being so candid in interviews. With the passing in such a recent memory it can't be easy

[@johnsrabe]

Thanks for this comment. So often the parents and other relatives can’t see past their grief. (The Boston Marathon bomber’s mother, as a most extreme example.) Dad did a real service here and maybe even helped some people.

[@caribbeanaviator1964]

He is a retired professional aviator, his instincts as an aviator would guide him towards a truthful and candid statement. Even while fighting through the grief.

[@sllabymeugnot]

"Fly like an old lady, Live to be an old man."

[@leecowell8165]

drive a vehicle that way as well..

[@phildavenport4150]

@@leecowell8165 On public roads, definitely. But if you like to drive fast and test your limits, there are race tracks aplenty. And the public roads aren't among them, unless closed specifically for the purpose. BTW, I recommend that all drivers should be offered the opportunity to do an advanced driving course at a race track, in as many different weather conditions as possible. You learn so much about your car and, especially, yourself. Taken the right way, the experience makes you a better driver on public roads, and far less likely to contribute to an accident. I can imagine flying wouldn't be a lot different. All you need is a way to get the cowboy out.

[@NoNameNo.5]

I doubt Roy wanted to be either

[@o.m.b.demolitionenterprise5398]

What does this even mean?

[@NoNameNo.5]

@@o.m.b.demolitionenterprise5398 it means if you fly like an old lady (stereotype would be slow, cautious, not speeding or risky) you will live to old age.....but that shit dont make sense either because the old broads gettin into accidents all the time anyways

[@TheSeriousMatte]

I have flown these A5s and they are intoxicating. One of the things the instructor kept repeating was "even if you can, doesn't mean you should. Never lose respect for these machines." This is an outstanding report. Well done.

[@justinborysenko3885]

thoseguysactual that’s why I gave up my sport bikes when the kids were born. Click click click 120 mph

[@PhilbyFavourites]

justin borysenko: you are in control of your own right hand, don’t use kids as an excuse for giving it up. You will be bitter for a very long time......

[@pittss2c601]

@@justinborysenko3885 "There are no dangerous motorcycles just dangerous riders". Just like airshow pilot Duane Cole told me about airplanes. I rode a Suzuki Hayabusa for over 13 years until I hit 50. I owned lots of sport bikes before that. It does exactly what you tell it to do. Riding a Hayabusa is one of life's greatest experiences.

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

justin borysenko don’t listen to these idiots. I dont have any kids, but I have kept myself from getting a sportier car because I can’t afford the tickets. Sure im in control, but I know I tend to do stupid things and the temptation is so much greater in a machine built for speed.

[@buddymoore6504]

I think the fact that they show it as a jet ski with wings might cause people to get carried away, I could crash that easy

[@JayStClair-mh5wv]

This is the best aviation source when you want the bottom line with no added BS.

[@Bugdriver49]

He's not bad...but I would put Blancolirio at the top of my list !!!

[@vibratingstring]

@@Bugdriver49 Both good. Totally different. But I predict we'll see them together at some point.

[@Heart2HeartBooks]

I could have done this video in 8 seconds...ready...go......Halliday took lots of drugs and flew a plane....he was a freaking idiot and deserves the Darwin award. Amen! Was that 9 seconds? OK 9 seconds!

[@genericyoutube]

Ending on a compassionate note, so honorable. It was stupid of him, but it is a disease. We all have different demons to fight.

[@jeffshultz5348]

I noticed that also. It’s a desease. But never the keys to an airplane.

[@77thTrombone]

I'll never fly, because of ADD, but he flew with morphine stew.

[@tomgunn8004]

@@jeffshultz5348 No it's not!

[@tomgunn8004]

@Wonderin'Aloud N o it's not!

[@Ka_Gg]

It's an addiction. But yes, all people have some type of demons. Sad story.

[@ronricherson6685]

When I was a teenager, I flew with dad Don, his boss and his two sons from Vegas to L.A. in their Cessna 210. We saw a Rams game with some friends who lived in CA on Monday night, partied into the next day and flew home in the evening. All had been drinking except me. As our CA friends dropped us off, the pilot, my dads boss was definitely beyond buzzed and not fit to fly. He jokingly said, "All aboard the champagne flight to Las Vegas!" Everyone laughed, but I was nervous; especially when Don also said, "I'm not worried about navigation, once you're airborne and flying in the general direction of Vegas, you just fly towards to bright lights." Flying at night like this added to my tension. I don't think I exhaled until we landed. A year later, we all flew to from Vegas to see the Indianapolis 500. The day after the race, we boarded to fly home. No pre-flight check (as I later learned was SOP, especiall for a cross-country flight). We took off despite Don's son telling him something didn't look right on the instrument panel. Don just motioned to go. 20 minutes later, we lost power will banked completely sideways. The prop came to a dead stop; the silence sent shock waves through all of us, followed by cursing and frantic attempts to get the plane level. We missed concrete by a few feet and caromed off some wet grass with a horrifying crunch I can still here. We bounced across a runway, slid to a stop, on fire. I was the last out, leaping over the flames. Don's other son had an open container; he had actually cracked open a beer early in the morning. The FAA let that slide after a clever way of questioning us as a group. Don got a new plane and crashed again 2 years later from a mountain runway; he and his one passenger had more severe injuries. Needless to say, his insurance was done with him! I later flew with a more conscientious pilot who was meticulous about safety. Only then did I realize how reckless and careless Don was. I'm lucky to be alive.

[@fightingirish8631]

Wow! Unbelievable story.

[@WmSrite-pi8ck]

Who is 'Don"?"

[@mattbaatz6465]

@@WmSrite-pi8ck Confusing lack of punctuation but I think the intended was "I flew with Dad, Don (Dad's boss), and Don's two sons".

[@77thTrombone]

@@mattbaatz6465 that stymied me, too, but I think you've deciphered it. Either way, teenager Ron had more sense than the others.

[@PhxAzGuy]

Don Corleone? Don Trump? Otherwise not interested.

[@BlueBaron3339]

Again, as always, Paul's reasoning is as focused as it is flawless, with a proper dose of compassion at the end. Well done.

[@jamesfreeman8276]

@@alexanderzerka8477 I think it's a little bit more complicated than you're letting on. Addiction is complex.

[@ccasche5088]

Huge agree

[@frankbuck99]

@@alexanderzerka8477 I agree. I used to smoke but stopped because I looked at the potential long-term problems and decided it wasn't worth it. I drank heavily in the Marine Corps but figured out 20 drinks a night was going to kill me. I never tried cocaine (and I lived and partied during the 80's) because I know my disposition to excess and didn't like the potential disaster. Same reason I don't bungee jump. I have enough problems with the internet now, but at least my internal organs work. I'm not making light of addiction, but it's a lot easier to never start than to stop. This looks clumsy, hope it makes sense.

[@caconym358]

​@@alexanderzerka8477 Luck is the reason you are not a drug addict looking up at the world from the bottom of a deep, dark hole. Luck in where you were born and to what parents, luck in being genetically more or less susceptible to addiction, luck in having found something that gives your life meaning and a way to afford it ... whatever it is, whatever combination of things, it doesn't matter-you are lucky, because you are an animal, and you don't have nearly the amount of control over your destiny that you think you do. It is possible to recognize addiction as something more complex than a conscious choice to destroy one's life for a few hours of feeling good *without* accepting it as a valid "excuse for selfish hedonistic immoral decisions", whatever that even means. But the former recognition means we also have to view addiction as the public health crisis that it really is, and that implies a need for public action to fix it, and *that* means spending money, which is bad. So the "personal responsibility" nonsense gets rolled out and we leave the blame where it belongs, with the irresponsible, immoral drug addicts, and keep wandering through our shiny pretty lives while the world falls to pieces around us. Lying to yourself works, but not forever.

[@ZorbaTheDutch]

@@alexanderzerka8477 "I'm just tired of the despair of addiction becoming an excuse for selfish hedonistic immoral decisions. " -- Except that nobody was making that argument and it has little to do with the original notion of addiction being a disease, and patients needing compassion (and treatment).

[@johnmartlew5897]

I watched out of curiosity. I’m not a pilot, and I don’t need to be one to know how much sense this man made. Drug issues aside, the tech points by themselves were clear and understandable even for me.

[@ellioteaston7745]

Same here.

[@mizzury54]

Same here. My father was a pilot based in England in World War 2 and an instructor stateside afterwards. I found all this fascinating.

[@mercster]

Yeah, it's not that the drugs caused him to not be able to understand the limitations. The drugs made him feel invincible and ignore them. Spoken from an addict.

[@theuntangledmind109]

As a new pilot, I really appreciate your straightforward, laid back explanation of what really happened, and your compassion towards those struggling with addiction- 10/10

[@Banshee365]

"When are Bonanza's going to stop killing Doctors?" Me: "When are Doctors going to stop killing Bonanza's?"

[@darkdelta]

I have a friend, now retired from AA, told me a very long time ago "Never get in an airplane with a doctor or a lawyer." I know of two local incidents, that involved one of each. One for sure had fatalities, I can't remember about the other. The common element was bad judgement, running out of fuel in one case, and flying into bad weather.

[@davidnoland6796]

They are a handful hot heavy days

[@fr8fr6dr69]

Same reason that guys like Kennedy fly themselves off into marginal VFR at night in a single-engine over-filled with passengers and only 80 hours of experience - because they have been so successful in other areas of life that they think it "automatically" transfers to their piloting. It should be called "dead, cocky, rich dumbass" syndrome.

[@darkdelta]

@@FallLineJP Surgery! What could go wrong there?

[@Tony_Airlines]

The Cirrus has replaced the doctor role.

[@tamoroso]

I'm a physician who (among other things) helps people manage and control their addictions. Your comments on addiction as a disease were well said and on the money. Thank you.

[@Stretch501st]

Exactly, no one decides one day “I want to do heroin, sounds fun!” No, there is usually a backstory that got them to that desperate point, such as PTSD, mental illness, or taking pain medication legally, but losing control, and then having to turn to street drugs as doctor will no longer prescribe.

[@L0j1k]

@@Stretch501st People like to point to specific things (especially when there are external motivations via e.g. prohibition laws). But adding a layer of abstraction, addiction is as simple and far-ranging as: "I am and therefore I will use to alter the condition of my immediate mental frame of reference" and there you go, off to the races. When the object of an addiction serves as a kind of feedback loop that affects the initial decision conditions for the subject, is about the time that it becomes an addiction. People are "addicted" to things we don't even consider addictions, because the addiction is disguised as the subject simply being a population outlier in, say, staying late at the office, or being very sexually promiscuous. Things which are normal and healthy activities for a social animal "take up space" from the objects of an addiction (even things which could be "abused" in an addiction by another subject), which is why the rodents living in nice enclosures with enriched social environments and a wide variety of experiential inputs use less of the freely-available addictive chemicals than the ones isolated from their peer group in shitty cages. That's why you can't trust someone is truly clean until they hit life problems, since it's super easy not to fall back on addiction when you're surrounded by social relationships and engaging environments, but super difficult when you lost your job and your house and your wife and your dog and living out of your car. That's also why you can be addicted to any number of things that aren't a white, crystalline powder, but also why it's possible for people to consume white, crystalline powders without it being qualified as an addiction. Source: Lifelong addiction edgelord.

[@dodgeplow]

@ihategoogle "the 'disease" theory of addiction has no scientific basis in fact" - guess you've never read anything about alcoholism. Try educating yourself

[@lesterdiamond6190]

my best fishing buddy recently relapsed into alcohol addiction and it really sucks. I can't stand to be around people who are drinking. Every year i have to come up with some bs excuse about why i'm skipping the company christmas party again.

[@velochlauer585]

@ihategoogle Well, when you start using drugs for fun, you're not yet addicted. But as soon as you becom eaddicted through overuse, you can't just "work hard enough". The disease lies in the fact that you can't just flip a switch and get clean again. There's biological mechanisms that prevent you from stopping easily and those are increasingly well understood by science. You just don't know about them. Now your switch to homosexuality shows me that your on about something else here, as it has nothing to do with anything, yet you lump it in with the addiction topic (are you, Sir, by chance a Christian conservative?). And btw.: No scientist has ever said that there is "a gay gene". There is a complex of genes that influences your sexual preferences on a wide spectrum, and there is the well researched fact that about 7-13 % of the male population (for example) are born homosexuals. It holds up in every country, ethnicity or social class/group. The value does not depend on culture, education or even trauma. That leaves only the possibility for it to be genetic, it's that simple, even if we might not yet understand which genes are involved exactly. My advice: read some (popular) scientific literature about addiction and homosexuality, you might learn something.

[@IslandSimPilot]

We really don't need to get too fancy here. The guy had appalling judgment, took idiotic risks, and paid the price. End of story.

[@Riley_1955]

Not to mention lying through his teeth about not taking medication or being in rehab.....Obviously being a rich celebrity and knowing the right people made the FAA application go through with no problems.

[@demonwolf1994]

the sad thing is now Icon is taking the heat for it

[@MrWATCHthisWAY]

randy munk - but even hiding the amount of methamphetamines in his system doesn’t help either.

[@easternwoods4378]

Adrenalin junkie

[@Remaggib]

@@demonwolf1994 If I could afford it I'd still go out tomorrow and get one. Only 2 fatal crashes in a decade, and both of them pilot error? Yeah, not worried about the plane.

[@williambotha5864]

Great analysis, very well delivered without judgement or assumptions ... thank you.

[@BloggerMusicMan]

Thank you for this breakdown. Even as someone who is not an aviation fanatic, there are a lot of very important lessons that could be learned from this video. RIP Roy Halladay

[@markhull1366]

This is the absolute best analysis concerning a crash I've ever seen. Makes me think of Dragnet's Joe Friday: "Just the Facts".

[@justforever96]

Like Donut Operator's "Just The Fax"?

[@christheother9088]

Death by boredom. If flying gets dull and the only thing that helps is buzzing the ground, get a new hobby.

[@TLN-qu4rq]

I know, right. This guy should have never been flying.

[@bjs2022]

T4L0N57 I survived flying stupidly while young and dumb (the draft during the Vietnam war end my flying) but this guy apparently never matured.

[@MrWATCHthisWAY]

The A5 is a great aircraft it just cost too much for me!

[@danielkeirsteadsr6939]

Well said..

[@None-zc5vg]

See 'Bud Holland'.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Paul, thanks hugely for this outstanding report. Balanced and incisive. 💛🙏🏽

[@johngill5175]

Thank you for your final comment about the disease of addiction. It's a terrible thing, and when viewed in the wrong context, impossible to overcome. When in the right context, you can conquer! Thank You!

[@justinerdmann12]

The best saying my CFI told me was "There are Old Pilots and there are Bold pilots but there are no Old Bold pilots" There is no substitution for training, proficiency and knowing your personal limits. Thank you, Paul, for keeping this so professional and respectful to the pilot.

[@machinesandthings7121]

This is so true! Unemotional, rational decision-making, are key to operating high consequent machines.

[@sugershakify]

Mama always said Stupid is as Stupid does

[@gastonbell108]

F the pilot. If he'd had a single-vehicle fatality in a car while high as a kite, would you still be so concerned about respecting him? Because you can bet he'd been driving around with those drugs in his system for months endangering everybody he encountered. 6 separate narcotics is not the profile of a man who cares about anybody but his addiction.

[@rogjackson]

According to his autopsy, the pilot was on high levels of morphine and amphetamine, as well as alcohol and ambien. Ooops. I almost forgot. Antidepressants too. Respectful to the pilot? Are you serious?

[@adamr9215]

Justin I’ve always hated that saying. Being bold doesn’t mean stupid. Bold means confident, and confident people can make quick decisions when an emergency happens. Now, timid pilots are a huge problem. They are indecisive and may panic instead of handling an unexpected situation. Timid pilots lock up and do nothing when an emergency happens. Bold pilots stay in control of themselves and have a better chance of keeping control of the aircraft.

[@ronaldmarshall4054]

hmmm this gentlemen died from being careless and reckless due to his being bored and taking meds that proved to be deadly I'm glad that the manufacturer was not found to be at fault

[@almilani4300]

PILOT ERROR. ON 2 FRONTS. SHOWING OFF AND DRUGS.

[@karbide3084]

Who's claiming they were...? One guy at an airshow?

[@Bkings7]

@Daddy1724 every hospital I've ever been to uses hydromorphone for pain relief so it's not some rare thing bud

[@dillcifer]

I took a nothing but a muscle relaxer for a short time.. when I stopped the prescription, I still couldn’t use my medical for ten days.

[@vincentk8740]

@J CC I think that the Amphetamin was the Problem not the opiods.

[@steveturner3999]

Very professional and enlightening assessment of this incident. Enjoyed your speaking skills. Thanks for this update and explanation.

[@billoxley3]

I always respect your candor and restraint in your presentations. Thank you.

[@mike95826]

So at some point in his life he had the discipline to obtain both the multi-engine and instrument ratings. Those are not easy. It appears to me that his career in professional sports that rewards anything that "helps" someone "push thru" pain just long enough to "finish the game" results in these kind of dependencies. Once he had retired he was able to resume his flying which is prohibited by contract. He knew that if he told the medical examiner the truth that his flying career might be over just as it would have begun again. I also believe that there is a period near the end and immediately after any career that depression sets in with the knowledge that what you had trained for and done most of your life is over.

[@dwarden3]

Then it's a good thing that I've been training to retire my whole life.

[@sludge4125]

@@dwarden3 Me, too. My goal was 55, and I did it. (I am not bragging. I realize I am just very fortunate.)

[@philipbyrnes7501]

That was very sensitively handled and wisely dissected, thank you for your usual great videos but especially for this one. It always easy to blame the pilot when he can’t speak up for himself as so many airlines have done over the years but sometimes it is fairly obvious that it wasn’t the aircraft’s fault and that the blame truly does belong to bad decision making by the pilot. Hopefully if just one person learns from this and doesn’t make the same mistakes it will be worth your effort in showing what most likely actually happened. Thank you for being so kind

[@Heart2HeartBooks]

Here is the non sensitive version.Halliday was an idiot. Took lots of drugs and flew a plan! Darwin Award!

[@77thTrombone]

I _don't_ think he was an idiot, but I _do_ think he had issues that could _only euphemistically_ be called "bad judgement." I'd call it _Todeswunsch._

[@harrymarso7512]

@@77thTrombone you are ok

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

Well done. It's a first step in restoring the potential for level headed sanity on the internet. Liked and appreciated! P.S. Tragic accident but it's a blessing no one else was injured or killed.

[@av8tor261]

Thank you for your summary. Mr. pilot was jacking around and his last flight reminds me of two sayings. "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but, there are few old bold pilots." "There is safety in altitude and speed."

[@martinpauly]

Good analysis and report, Paul. Thank you for keeping it factual instead of spinning it into a hyped-up story. We need more of this reporting style. Regards, Martin

[@jeffwolinski2659]

I am not a pilot but have an interest in aviation, and I have to say this is one of the best videos I have ever seen on KZbin about any topic. Great presentation.

[@cmelje]

Really well presented and logical. Thanks Paul for, as usual, stepping back and giving straight scoop.

[@legneil]

At least he didn’t kill anyone else in is drug induced flight.

[@mvd4436]

Yeah yeah Nancy Reagan. These were trace amounts.

[@sisyphusvasilias3943]

I love your videos. So well thought out, documented and structured. Clear, concise and with immaculate grammar and vocabulary. They make excellent case studies for any type of professional presentation. Just the right amount of personality and humanity as well.

[@scottutube1]

A very sober, fair, well-done analysis. Thanks, Paul.

[@katanapilot007]

Paul, as usual, your reporting is accurate and professional. Keep up the good work!

[@aikibaby]

The Icon looks like a fine aircraft to me. Looks like Halladay was out of his mind when he crashed. Not uncommon and not to be blamed on the airplane.

[@jan3195]

As usual, an excellent presnetation, Paul. Thank you, sir.

[@PatrickJWenzel]

Mental note: "Don't ask Paul Bertorelli stupid questions at airshows. Expect KZbin video otherwise". Tick.

[@Orangie2008]

And follow "Wheaton's Law". It's worth googling. (Wil Wheaton's, not mine)

[@happysawfish]

Patrick: I have a question for YOU. When is Icon going to stop killing people?

[@josephking6515]

@@happysawfish Yes, *TWO* fatal crashes in 12 years. They really are just serial killers. 🙄

[@matthewfairbrother6348]

If it gets a video this good, I'll hunt down a whole list of stupid questions for Paul

[@DavidAnderson-fr8ii]

Alot of times it is by asking a guestion that we learn. Sometimes it maybe a dumb question to some but not to all.

[@juliomanuel5352]

As always, thank you Paul for a very well put video, you are a great contributor to pilot education.

[@jamescole1786]

Paul, Great detail on that unfortunate accident of Mr.Halady, the Baseball player...& pilot. Exceptional details on NTSB reports, aircraft performance & toxicology report. Especially appreciated your comments re: addiction...a disease not a weakness. Great summation & great graphics, charts, videos in pleasant conversational style mixed with good humor. Give us more!👍👍👍😊

[@brianb5594]

As always, excellent analysis Paul!

[@jimgaul67]

Paul, always enjoy your videos. They are well thought out and very informative. Also like your wry sense of humor

[@XRP747E]

Valuable, quality video. This effort can save lives. Thank you.

[@kentd4762]

As always, Paul, thank you for a quality report, especially your compassionate but prudent point at the end about the beast/demon of addiction. Fly safe all.

[@warrenroberts4502]

Always a pleasure to listen to you and your well researched points of view..presented in a calm understandable manner.. Great work...thanks

[@r08800]

And here's me with good judgement and on transplant medication for the last 10 years and can't get a private pilots license because of the meds. I really enjoyed this video. Straight to the point and very well explained.

[@Pembquist1]

Yeah, I assume he just lied on his medical as you wouldn't get one without A LOT of explaining/paying for FAA approved experts with the drugs he had taken.

[@liampettit7446]

Get your sport license, no medical required. If you can't get a private then it's definitely worth it!

[@josephking6515]

Robbo, I feel your pain. I know exactly what you are feeling and it is not nice. Stay safe.

[@Robocline]

Well if you had good judgement you wouldn't have needed a transplant (I'm joking by the way). But I would do as Liam pointed out and get a sport license or find an aircraft that you don't need any license to operate (although the risks of those may not be worth the reward). If you petition the FAA to be reasonable I'll sign it with you. Aviation shouldn't be as restrictive as it has been in the past. Sometimes it just feels like a good ol boys club and you aren't invited.

[@bartacomuskidd775]

Which medications are these? Or is there a list for reference?

[@JRJunior8624]

Excellent commentary, we need MANY more like this man.

[@billbaldwin8074]

Absolutely excellent analysis and commentary. Great job!

[@ejwesp]

A superb, albeit sobering, deconstruction of a deeply tragic event. I have a long time aviation friend and A&P whose dad flew "unusual" missions in Viet Nam. His dad's only words of advice about flying was the admonition that "No one is exempt."

[@rigilchrist]

Insightful, as is all your work. Thank you.

[@hunterm9]

Great, compassionate, but honest video about the crash that is easy to understand for even novice aviation enthusiasts. Tragic accident, like many we've seen in aviation in the past.

[@AmyAnnLand]

I have so much respect for you. You provide such great insight without judgement. Thank you.

[@galenhayek]

Great video. Appreciate what you said about addiction at the end, that's important!

[@miked1355]

Professional presentation and perspective at every level

[@CinemaDemocratica]

Excellent video -- I know nothing about the subject matter and I found this well-structured, well-explained, easy to understand, and ultimately highly persuasive. Top marks across the board.

[@MiloYellowknee]

Top quality breakdown and commentary. Respect!

[@documax123]

I find aviation dissections of small plane accidents so interesting, particularly for the insights into how decision making factors are involved and laid bare. This is a great analysis, and of not the customary type of case. And something really seemed to stick out here, particularly (and oddly enough, just for me). Yes prescription meds abuse don't mix well with flying. And I could have the wrong impression of this plane, but from the picture of it conjured up in my mind extreme sports (like aircraft), especially after hearing the maneuvers depicted. However, it was the reference to social media, that the pilot reflexively social mediatized his experiences, his flying, that was the culturally and psychologically indicative element that wrapped things up for me. His flying (and pursuit), and his/this accident, all went into the 'selfie-picture' (& selfie-picture self) category of misadventure. It's got that overall ring to it.

[@shrapnel77]

Pharmacist: "What kind of prescriptions are you getting filled today Roy?" Halladay: "Yes."

[@martinc.720]

That "template" for jokes stopped being funny years ago. We all know it, we've all seen it, it's been overused in thousands and thousand of comment sections.

[@93surplus]

I thought it was funny Got a good chuckle out of it

[@tntkop]

@@martinc.720 It stopped being funny “years ago”? Roy Hallady died in 3 years ago. Don’t think that quite qualifies as “years ago”. And thousands and thousands of people have gone into general aviation since then, and may be seeing these Aviation videos for the first time. So are they not allowed to comment on them? Lighten up Francis.

[@martinc.720]

@@tntkop Was not talking about that at all. Make sure you understand what you’re commenting on before trying to tell others what to do.

[@nighttrain1236]

LMAO. Toxicology report: All the drugs.

[@AdmiralLobeam]

Outstanding assessment - on ALL counts! Thank you!!!

[@duke96]

Wow....what a concise and EXCELLENT report !!!! Best I have ever heard !!!! Spot on Paul !!!!

[@StonyRC]

A fact-based, clear and concise evaluation of a tragic series of errors by a pilot. Very well said, Sir.

[@purplesprigs]

To the above commenter who said, "it is a disease" - you are beyond stupid. I have been through 3 MAJOR spine surgeries, experienced more pain than you can imagine, and refused all opioids. Everyone knows how addictive they are. The Dr. who prescribed this turd opioids should have died with him.

[@hxcadillac]

I appreciate your final comments about the nature of addiction. It is great to see that people in the industry are conscious of the true nature of the problem, and you hit the nail on the head: illness and flying don't mix. I'm asthmatic, which I understand disqualifies me from a huge amount of the aviation world. Managing risk is crucial, and illness means risk.

[@XSpamDragonX]

Theres really nothing stopping planes from accomodating asthmatic pilots, they just don't want the added cost for a minority of potential pilots, which is sad.

[@DdDd-ss3ms]

very much apreciate you comments and view of this accident without judging . IMHO your way of reviewing this accident is helping others to be aware of safe flying and preventing them to make (fatal) mistakes .

[@JonoKnewt]

This is great reporting. Well done, Paul and AVWeb.

[@ianbruce9603]

Exceptional presentation. I’d had questions about this accident and, to coin a phrase, you covered all the bases. Thank you again Paul.

[@rayray8687]

Ian Bruce: You didn’t “coin” that phrase, it’s been in use for many decades.

[@LesCish]

Thanks for this. Sad series of events. As someone in recovery, I really appreciate your closing comments about addiction. Compassion does not equal trust or tolerating unsafe behavior.

[@richc47us]

thanks for the update on this!

[@blammers]

Thank you for the clear and detailed analysis.

[@AlexandarHullRichter]

Your words about addiction are right on point. I wish more people saw it that way.

[@bipolatelly9806]

No they're not.

[@AlexandarHullRichter]

@@bipolatelly9806 how many years have you been addicted?

[@Tencargo]

As a career military and airline pilot, I have to say this is one of the best accident presentation I have seen.

[@georgej.dorner3262]

A clipped informative narration delivered with excellent diction...Mr. Bertorelli, you have a new fan.

[@chrishaan5766]

Excellent analysis Well done!

[@dickmartn]

He was a Hot Dogger showing off or giving himself a thrill.

[@desolatesurfer8651]

Adrenaline is the drug that got him.

[@flagmichael]

...mixed with a nominal dose of testosterone.

[@skyhawk_4526]

And I imagine with all those depressants in his system, it took a lot of foolish thrill seeking to reach the adrenal levels anyone else not taking such a cocktail of drugs would reach without such extreme maneuvering.

[@gerrywhelan5761]

People that have lived at a very high level be they sports stars, film, or music stars or whatever, have great difficulty in leaving that life behind if for some reason they had too, be it retirement, or just your star fading.

[@johnnyfire3860]

@@gerrywhelan5761 This is why veterans of combat have such a hard time adjusting when they come home

[@gerrywhelan5761]

@@johnnyfire3860 Yes u are correct in that comparison in what they lived through changed them in a way that the had difficulty in dealing with the new reality that they found them self's in, but there is major differences as well, in the former those people if they had the power would love to go back to the time that has now has contributed to their difficulty, combat guys that have now a similar difficulty because in what they went through would not wish to go back to that time, some do of course do, but not many. Yes many miss the deep brotherhood that developed, but not what is causing them problems many years later.

[@Kefoo_]

-- Well researched, written and spoken. Thank you.

[@catherinenelson4162]

Wow! Very precise and fine assessment. It's scary to think of someone operating any equipment with any one of those drugs in their system.

[@oldeyeball]

Well stated.

[@skyking228]

I watched Roy pitch many high school games in Arvada, CO. Hope some lessons can be learned from this tragedy.

[@TheTravelmedic319]

Excellent Analysis and a very well put presentation

[@frankcasey7423]

Excellent summary and very professional!

[@ericulrik6659]

Succinct, chronological breakdown of this unfortunate accident. Icon continues to be an outstanding design. Thank you for bringing facts into the equation.

[@embracethesuck1041]

Reminds me of the old "doctor killers". Less about the plane itself than the characteristics of those buying them.

[@kennethchambers9949]

It reminds me of Randy Rhoades and his buddy that thought it would be fun to buzz their buddys house shitfaced drunk for some kicks. The alcohol and drugs alone was not enough for thrills, Lets throw in an airplane ride. The airplane ride has always been enough for a true aviator. At least in the air.

[@TheVertigoalley]

As a colleague of several neurosurgeons who fly, I would agree that confidence, sometimes misplaced, is a trait of the profession. “Often wrong, but never uncertain.”

[@kennethchambers9949]

@@TheVertigoalley I agree, I know a bunch of arrogant narcissistic doctors that think they know all and are the best at anything. It goes with the profession like you said but you know what they call the Doctors that finish last in the class don't you? Doctor!

[@nighttrain1236]

@@TheVertigoalley I have a Doctor friend like that. He seems to think that his medical degree qualifies him to be a universal expert.

[@jhoughjr1]

@@TheVertigoalley my ex gf has known many neurosurgeons due to hydrocephalus. They are even less apt than other drs to admit not knowing something. She has vision and hearing issues due to their arrogance and misplaced certainty.

[@richkotas6491]

Very excellent commentary. You are very professional and to the point.

[@rubenvillanueva8635]

Excellent review, well spoke , and easy to follow.

[@cyrooski4]

Oh and not to mention that muscle relaxers are really tranquilizers. Tranquilizers were not selling well when they were prescribed for most types of back pain and people said wait a minute there's nothing wrong with my mind I really do have the back pain, so they changed the name to muscle relaxers when in fact it doesn't relax muscles at all except indirectly. I don't think I'd want to be flying an airplane tranquilized. I have 500 hours in a lake amphibian and they require extreme concentration.

[@KB4QAA]

CT: Sorry, but it's not a pharmaceutical conspiracy. Muscle relaxers do relax muscles. Keep shoveling the unscientific Chiropractic kool aid.

[@j.walker6845]

Roy's case is unique because he is coming off a successful sports career, and the highs he experienced could never be reproduced in his post-retirement hum-drum life. Some athletes face this post-career crisis and end up partaking in risky behavior to feel like their old selves again.

[@johnsrabe]

And when playing he probably had very good medical supervision, which could give him the illusion that HE knew about meds, too.

[@danrozelle6737]

I listened intently through this whole video because this gentlemen did such a good job presenting the information there by helping me appreciate his personal opinions when he stated them. I would have to give this video a A+

[@RubenKelevra]

Excellent quality comment, as always! Thank you.

[@paulkoza8652]

I first saw the description of this accident on The Flight Channel. Then your analysis popped up. You did an outstanding job of dissecting the various inputs to the crash, including the human factor. Your advice on whether you put yourself behind the controls of an airplane goes far beyond the flying profession. It is true for all activities that involve machines or risky activities. It is too bad that your video cannot be shown repeatedly to kids in school. Perhaps your advice could be life saving to some of them. Thank you.

[@benwilsonMMA]

Thank you for this video! I hope it saves a few lives of young pilots who could go down this same road

[@markwoldin162]

Thank you, Mr. B. Fascinating.

[@psjasker]

This a thoughtful analysis that manages to accurately assess the facts without unecessarily disparaging the decedent.

[@kennyw871]

Mr. Halladay had every reason to be concerned about his son's aviation ventures, which proved to be inauspicious in the end. Your telling the tale was excellent throughout. Thank you.

[@dsandoval9396]

If "blatto" is a euphemism for "in a coma" then, yes, I think that would be correct. Holy moly, he was a one man Vegas bachelor party! How can they say they're not sure it played a part in the crash!?

[@wisedupearly3998]

How can they say ... ? Lawyers

[@bnetolldnataman]

Blotto ..... I was surprised at that term... but apt...😪

[@User0000000000000004]

Moron

[@jfan4reva]

Because if they say something obvious and then it turns out to have been some weird electronic/mechanical failure (737 Maxx?), they will have no future credibility. Investigations have to be done patiently, diligently, thoroughly, and the investigators shouldn't have to worry about making the 6:00pm news cycle. Oh, and everyone's lawyers and political friends too....

[@jeffohmart7053]

Having been involved in too many fatal car crash investigations, here's some insight...there's plenty of scientific studies showing the effects of alcohol and what happens at specific levels of BAC. There's basically none that establish when a level of other drug impairs each person. Add the smorgasbord of drugs and there's no telling what the synergistic effects are on each person. If the levels weren't extremely high or we had behavioral observations, we couldn't get a physician to state the drug levels resulted in impaired behavior.

[@omgMBP]

wow... subscription earned. excellent and respectful rundown.

[@RCAFTailWind]

Great video. Straight, honest and to the point. And respectful. Unlike a majority of posts here

[@EDDIEVALLEE]

"Training aimed at breaking through a tendency towards BAD JUDGEMENT has never been a reining success in Aviation, and it certainly wasn't here." - So true.

[@chefmatthammerschmidt8408]

Paul, as a former addict, you are on point. You know your stuff about addiction. I sent a friend request to a neighbor's family and he blew up on me for no reason other than marijuana and was talking crap to his stepmother alongside his dad. I told him plain as day to step away from the keyboard and give me a minute. His comments remain in place on my page and he unfriended me. It is sad.

[@AfricanFlightStar]

Great synopsis Paul, thanks for that.

[@comcastjohn]

I am a disabled vet and take hydromorphone for pain, after suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI). There may be a day or two that I do not take it but it will still show in a urinalysis. That does not mean I am under the influence. The medications half a half life in the body. My hydromorphone is effective for 4 to 4.5 hours for pain relief. If you have taken anymore for say 8 hours, you are no longer under the influence if any. Narcotics affect me the totally opposite way of most people. I do not get a high, euphoric feeling, I do not have negative sensory issues. They do not make me sleepy. When I worked for a Sheriff’s Dept for 15 years, I started taking hydromorphone during that last year. I did not work when I had taken it prior to shift. However, I did prove that when I had take the medication, and am within the first hour of the half life, that I was not impaired. I proved it through all kinds of tests medical and LE supervised by my Doctor and the sheriff. I could shoot, move and communicate, my driving test, decision making skills, I passed everything. The Board of Commisioners, the Sheriff and the Doctor were satisfied I could work a normal shift. The only reason the Doctor would not sign off is because of perceived liability. Even if everything above was proven, it would still show in my system and so people would say I was under the influence and the lawsuits would start. After Four days it won’t be in my system, marijuana last 30 days from last ingestion. So these drug results do not mean he was impaired, is what I am trying to say. Sorry for the long post to try and get my point across. I think he was flying recklessly and bit the water.