Greg Feith
Encyclopedia
Gregory "Greg" Feith is a former American
Senior Air Safety Investigator (now retired) with the National Transportation Safety Board
. During his time at the NTSB, Feith worked as an Air Safety Investigator (Field) Unit Supervisor, Regional Director, and Senior Air Safety Investigator. Feith was also the U.S. Accredited Representative and Team Leader of six American investigators who climbed Mt. Illimani to an elevation of 21,223 feet MSL, to conduct the on-scene wreckage examination of Eastern Air Lines Flight 980
, a Boeing 727
. This is the highest accident site in commercial aviation history. He was the Investigator in Charge of the NTSB "Go-Team" from 1993 to 2001. Feith earned his Bachelor of Science
degree in Aeronautical Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
in Daytona Beach, Florida
, where he currently remains on faculty. Feith is a pilot himself, and owns and flies his Piper PA-24 Comanche
. He has a vehicle registration plate
of "CRASH1".
shows, such as the Canadian documentary series Mayday
(also known as Air Emergency in the United States and Air Crash Investigation in other parts of the world), Survival in the Sky
, and, most recently, Seconds from Disaster
. He hosted his own short-lived series Secrets of the Black Box on the History Channel, highlighting the major investigations that he led, along with the controversial and conspiracy theory riddled KAL007 investigation. He appeared in a made-for-TV movie Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501 as the co-pilot of the ill-fated DC-9. He is well-known for his frequent public speaking engagements at schools, aviation groups and trade associations. In his spare time he hosts "Hangar Flying Today," a radio program in Denver, Colorado
, near where he currently resides. Feith contributes articles to Business & Commercial Aviation magazine, including “Avoiding The Beast Below,” September 2002. He appears regularly as a guest aviation safety and security expert on NBC, MSNBC, while maintaining a busy speaking schedule with The Aviation Speakers Bureau.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Senior Air Safety Investigator (now retired) with the National Transportation Safety Board
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
. During his time at the NTSB, Feith worked as an Air Safety Investigator (Field) Unit Supervisor, Regional Director, and Senior Air Safety Investigator. Feith was also the U.S. Accredited Representative and Team Leader of six American investigators who climbed Mt. Illimani to an elevation of 21,223 feet MSL, to conduct the on-scene wreckage examination of Eastern Air Lines Flight 980
Eastern Air Lines Flight 980
On January 1, 1985, Eastern Air Lines Flight 980 struck Mount Illimani at an altitude of . The flight took off from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción, Paraguay and was destined for El Alto International Airport in La Paz, Bolivia...
, a Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
. This is the highest accident site in commercial aviation history. He was the Investigator in Charge of the NTSB "Go-Team" from 1993 to 2001. Feith earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Aeronautical Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university in the US specializing in aviation and aerospace engineering. It teaches the science, practice, and business of aviation and aerospace. Called "The Harvard of the Sky" by Time Magazine in 1979, Embry-Riddle has a history dating back to...
in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, where he currently remains on faculty. Feith is a pilot himself, and owns and flies his Piper PA-24 Comanche
Piper PA-24 Comanche
The Piper PA-24 Comanche is a four-seat, low-wing, all-metal, light aircraft of monocoque construction with retractable landing gear that was first flown in May 1956 according to a Piper Aircraft Company press release...
. He has a vehicle registration plate
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
of "CRASH1".
Media
Feith has appeared on several televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows, such as the Canadian documentary series Mayday
Mayday (TV series)
Mayday, also known as Air Crash Investigation in the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia and Air Emergency and Air Disasters in the United States, is a Canadian documentary television programme produced by Cineflix investigating air crashes, near-crashes and other disasters...
(also known as Air Emergency in the United States and Air Crash Investigation in other parts of the world), Survival in the Sky
Survival in the Sky
Survival in the Sky is a series of six one-hour episodes produced by Darlow Smithson Productions for The Learning Channel and Channel 4. Narrated by Will Lyman or Sean Barrett , the series primarily concentrated on commercial aviation accidents and the investigations related to them...
, and, most recently, Seconds from Disaster
Seconds From Disaster
-By original broadcast date:National Geographic Channel has broadcast many episodes under multiple titles. The title currently or most recently listed on the NGC Calendar is shown first...
. He hosted his own short-lived series Secrets of the Black Box on the History Channel, highlighting the major investigations that he led, along with the controversial and conspiracy theory riddled KAL007 investigation. He appeared in a made-for-TV movie Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501 as the co-pilot of the ill-fated DC-9. He is well-known for his frequent public speaking engagements at schools, aviation groups and trade associations. In his spare time he hosts "Hangar Flying Today," a radio program in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, near where he currently resides. Feith contributes articles to Business & Commercial Aviation magazine, including “Avoiding The Beast Below,” September 2002. He appears regularly as a guest aviation safety and security expert on NBC, MSNBC, while maintaining a busy speaking schedule with The Aviation Speakers Bureau.
Notable accident investigations
- Aloha Airlines Flight 243Aloha Airlines Flight 243Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was a scheduled Aloha Airlines flight between Hilo and Honolulu in Hawaii. On April 28, 1988, a Boeing 737-200 serving the flight suffered extensive damage after an explosive decompression in flight, but was able to land safely at Kahului Airport on Maui. The only...
- American Airlines Flight 1420American Airlines Flight 1420American Airlines Flight 1420 was a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Little Rock National Airport in USA. On June 1, 1999, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 overran the runway upon landing in Little Rock and crashed...
- American Eagle Flight 4184American Eagle Flight 4184American Eagle Flight 4184 was an American Eagle ATR 72 that crashed after flying into unknown icing conditions on October 31, 1994. Control was lost and all aboard were killed.-History:...
- British Airways Flight 9British Airways Flight 9British Airways Flight 9, sometimes referred to by its callsign Speedbird 9 or Jakarta incident, was a scheduled British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Auckland, with stops in Bombay, Madras, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, and Melbourne....
- Eastern Air Lines Flight 980Eastern Air Lines Flight 980On January 1, 1985, Eastern Air Lines Flight 980 struck Mount Illimani at an altitude of . The flight took off from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción, Paraguay and was destined for El Alto International Airport in La Paz, Bolivia...
- Korean Air Flight 801Korean Air Flight 801Korean Air Flight 801 crashed on August 6, 1997, on approach to Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam ....
- SilkAir Flight 185SilkAir Flight 185SilkAir Flight 185, a Boeing 737-36N, registration 9V-TRF, was a scheduled passenger flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Singapore, which crashed on 19 December 1997 into the Musi River after abruptly plunging from its 35,000-foot cruise altitude, killing all 97 passengers and 7 crew on board.The...
- Swissair Flight 111Swissair Flight 111Swissair Flight 111 was a Swissair McDonnell Douglas MD-11 on a scheduled airline flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, United States to Cointrin International Airport in Geneva, Switzerland...
- ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Flight 592 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, and William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia...
Awards
- 1996 Laurel Award from Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine for "Outstanding Operations" for leadership during the conduct of the Valujet Airlines investigation ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Flight 592 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, and William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia...
in the Florida Everglades - 2001 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university in the US specializing in aviation and aerospace engineering. It teaches the science, practice, and business of aviation and aerospace. Called "The Harvard of the Sky" by Time Magazine in 1979, Embry-Riddle has a history dating back to...
Distinguished Alumni Award - 2003 SAFE Association, Michael R. Grost Award