Page:CAB Accident Report, Piedmont Airlines Flight 349.pdf/12

 The Board believes that the facts disclosed by th1s investigation demonstrate the adverse effects of serious emotional and mental stress on airman prof1c1ency and performance. It further believes that the early recognition and correction of such conditions which might tend to impair an airman's proficiency and performance would be benefic1al to flight safety. Accordingly, the Board recommends that the Federal Aviation Agency, appropri- ate segments of the aviation industry, and the medical profession initiate exploratory studies in this field.

The Board also considers that the investigation of this accident demonstrates the need for reexamination of the use of drugs which may affect the faculties of a flight crew member in any manner contrary to safety.

Since World War II there have been great advances in pharmacology and whole new families of drugs have become easily avallable to the public, either over the counter or by prescription. Since 1953-1954 one of the most signifi- cant advances has been in the field of psychopharmacology. There has been a proliferation of drugs which influence the state of mind, are employed in the treatment of mental disorders, or are used as psychic energizers. Within this group of drugs the so—called tranquilizers are being widely used by the publ1c.

The basic question which the Board believes must be resolved, therefore, is how does the use of these drugs relate to the safety of flight. For example, within the framework of the present Civil Air Regulation covering the use of drugs, should these drugs be classified as "…drug which affects his (crew member) faculties in any manner contrary to safety…" The Board is of the opinion that the answer to the question is a qualified "yes." In great part this decision is reached from review of military research into the relationship of drugs to the flying profession. The basic conclusion derived from this research can be stated quite simply: If a flight crew member's personal situation demands tranquilizers he should be removed from flying status while on the drugs.

The Board determines that the probable cause of this acc1dent was a navigational omission which resulted in a lateral course error that was not detected and corrected through precision instrument flying procedures.