Tommy McFall

Tommy McFall brings military, airline and NTSB investigation experience to every job.

During his 30 years as an aviator, safety director, manager, investigator, auditor and consultant, Tommy has worked with accident survivors, families and friends of victims, businesses and governments around the world. Tommy brings to every assignment a unique blend of military, airline, and governmental accident investigation and operational safety experience. He is also one of few consultants who has led an airline’s team responding to major international and domestic accidents.

Tommy has commercial, military, corporate, and general aviation operational and investigative experience. Clients value Tommy’s breadth of experience and the 360 degrees of perspective he brings to every investigation. He has served as a government investigator and as a representative to private parties under investigation.

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Profile

Accident investigator and management for:

U.S. Navy Military Pilot

Responsibilities:

  • Aircraft carrier based Naval Aviator
  • Naval Aviation Safety School at Monterey California Navy Post-Graduate School
  • Shipboard squadron/air wing aviation safety officer
  • Training Command basic and advanced jet flight and simulator instructor
  • U .S. Navy aircraft carrier jet attack pilot and landing signal officer

NTSB, Investigator and Regional Director

Responsibilities:
Aircraft accident investigator and subsequently regional director at the NTSB’s South Central Regional Office, 11 years. Investigator and supervisor of investigators in aviation accidents including:

  • Fixed and rotary wing general aviation
  • Corporate jet, turboprop
  • Regional/major air carriers conducted under both NTSB and ICAO Annex 13 rules

During 8 years as regional director, monitored over 400 aviation accident investigations annually in a six state area, including a satellite office in Denver, personally reviewing all cases for factual support of the proposed probable cause.

Routinely instructed at the NTSB and FAA Accident Investigation School at DOT’s Transportation Safety Institute in Oklahoma City, OK, Texas A&M’s Fire Protection Training Division, DFW Airport Department of Public Safety New Recruit Training, and American Association of Airport Executives Seminars, in addition to numerous other presentations to mass casualty responders and police/fire departments.




Commercial

American Airlines Director of Safety (4 years)
Director of Accident Investigations & Safety Reviews (3 years)
Responsibilities:

  • Corporate safety program (flight/ ground operations) and major aircraft accident investigations requiring extensive interaction with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), or equivalent international civil aviation authorities, for emergency response, accident investigation, and family assistance (CARE)
  • Worked closely with corporate and outside counsel on accident-related matters, including two NTSB public hearings.
  • Represented American at Pentagon following September 11, 2001 terrorist attack
  • Chairman, Air Transport Association (ATA) Safety Council, 1997/98
  • Lead role in International Air Transport Association (IATA) development of international airline audit standards in cooperation with DOD, DOT, and FAA, 1998/99
  • Member of IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Steering Committee and Advisory Group, 2001/02/03. Formal IOSA Auditor Training, April 2004.
  • Lead auditor on more than 30 international and domestic codeshare airline safety audits to FAA/DOT/DOD standards
  • Founding chairman, oneworld Safety Management Group (Aerlingus, American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Lan Chile, and Qantas), 2000/02
  • Co-chairman, Air Transport Association’s 1999 Operations and Safety Forum
  • Chairman, Society of Automobile Engineers’ (SAE) Aerospace 2000 Conference and Exposition
  • Chairman, IATA Emergency Response Seminar, 2002
  • Presenter at safety outreach programs in Chile and Argentina in 2002
  • Member and representative of American Airlines on IATA’s Safety Committee and the Flight Safety Foundation’s International Advisory Committee

Commercial Pilot
Responsibilities:

  • Pilot, flight engineer and FAA designated check engineer for Braniff Airways
  • Cessna Citation single-pilot corporate operations and type rating instructor pilot
  • Pilot for Fleming International Airlines (air freight)

Independent Consultant Services

McFall & Associates was established in 2003 to provide comprehensive consultation services for aviation accident investigation, reconstruction, and expert testimony. Clients of McFall & Associates are historically law firms, insurance companies, airlines, individuals and business.