Archives staff can assist you in obtaining access to the collections. Contact us for additional information or with questions about the collections. The Subject Index offers an overview of topics included in the collections.
Selected items from the collections have been digitized and are available online in our Digital Library. However, the digitized items represent only a small portion of the resources available in the Archives.
Collection finding aids can be found on Arizona Archives Online. In some cases, additional indexes or listings are available (either on this website or in-house). Please see the collection summaries below or consult with archives staff for additional information.
C.O. (Charles Otto) Miller was a teacher, consultant and engineer who worked in aviation system safety. He was a member of the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame and a founding member of the Embry-Riddle CASE Advisory Council. The Miller Papers contain biographical material; Miller's publications and presentations; teaching files; files on various organizations (including Miller's correspondence with the organizations); and his "accident prevention files" — a large set of subject files on aerospace safety and operations. (67.26 linear feet)
David Holladay was an aviation safety consultant and accident investigator. After retiring from the Air Force, he became head of the safety curriculum in the aerospace department at the University of Southern California. The Holladay Papers contain accident investigation case files; reference and research files; display boards used in testimony on aircraft accidents; manuals for various aircraft; and other binders of reference material (FAA publications, etc.). (512.9 linear feet)
- Brief finding aid for Holladay papers on Arizona Archives Online
- In-house finding aids are also available
David Hall has held various positions in the aviation profession and is a specialist in mishap prevention and investigation. He has provided service to the legal profession in the area of accident cause determination and accident reconstruction. The Hall Papers consist primarily of files relating to accident investigation. The collection also contains publications and reference material related to aviation safety. (193.72 linear feet)
Charles "Chuck" Mercer had a long career as an employee of the Lockheed Corporation, where he was an engineer and a member of the company's accident investigation team. Following his retirement from Lockheed, he started his own consulting firm and also served as a lecturer on accident investigation and aviation safety at the University of Southern California. The Mercer Papers contain reports by Mercer and others; some of Mercer's school papers in engineering; technical papers, manuals and other materials from his work at Lockheed; ICAO manuals from the 1970s; and assorted publications related to aviation and safety. (16.87 linear feet)
Waldock is a professor in the safety science program at Embry-Riddle - Prescott and has conducted numerous accident investigations. The Waldock Papers contain photographs of aviation safety scientists; a CD containing an NTSB docket; a DVD copy of a television program on a DC-10 accident near Paris; and a paper on accident investigation (not written by Waldock). (1.17 linear feet)
Dr. Robertson's research has been instrumental in saving lives. In 1976, he founded Robertson Aviation in Tempe, Arizona, to develop crashworthy auxiliary fuel systems, initially for U.S. Army and USAF special operations helicopters. These are now available for extending the range of all military helicopters. Robertson is an experimental test pilot, member of the OX 5 Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame, Army Aviation Hall of Fame, Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame and the National Guard's Legion de Lafayette. Dr. Robertson served on the Board of Trustees for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and also holds an honorary doctorate from Embry-Riddle. The Robertson Papers contains accident investigation case files (including over 15,000 photographs); technical papers, reports and reference material; a video library; and books and periodicals. (509.82 linear feet)
- Brief finding aid for Robertson papers on Arizona Archives Online
- Subject index and organization of Robertson's Library Information Files (technical papers, reports and reference material)
The Skyrage Foundation was founded by Michael Sheffer in 1998 to combat in-flight violence and disruptive passengers. The project was ended in 2004. The Skyrage Records contain an electronic copy of the Skyrage.org website; video of news coverage and a Skyrage presentation; and paper records including correspondence and subject/research files. (0.42 linear feet)
Sweginnis was a faculty member in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle - Prescott. The Sweginnis Papers contain course materials on aviation safety; photographs (chiefly slides) and videos used as teaching tools; flight manuals; and publications about aviation and aviation safety. (9.66 linear feet)
The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) is dedicated to the advancement of air safety investigation through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in aircraft accident and incident investigation. The ISASI collection consists mainly of aviation accident reports and air safety publications. (52.76 linear feet)
Juergen Tank was the director of Aviation Safety and Security at Embry-Riddle Prescott's Flight Line. The Tank collection contains course materials, training guides and manuals. (2.69 linear feet)
Christine Negroni is an aviation writer, investigator and journalist. She has worked as a television correspondent with CBS News, CNN and various local television stations. Ms. Negroni served on the FAA's Aging Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee, representing the National Air Disaster Alliance. She lectures on aviation and air safety to schools and organizations, and is interviewed frequently on American and British television. Ms. Negroni lectured and was honored at a book signing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus, in February of 2007. The Negroni Papers consist of interviews, notes, government documents and other materials she used for research for her book “Deadly Departure: Why the Experts Failed to Prevent the TWA 800 Disaster and How It Could Happen Again.” (12.8 linear feet)
Snyder is an internationally known research scientist with expertise in human impact tolerances and trauma mechanisms, biomechanics, forensic anthropology and anthropometry, crash protection, and transportation safety. The Snyder Papers consist of materials created and collected by Snyder in the course of his work as a research scientist over 50 years, including technical and scientific publications and reports; Snyder's publications and research files; correspondence; reference files; films; and books and other printed materials. (N.B., the Snyder Papers are unprocessed, and portions of the collection may not be available for use. Please contact the Archives in advance if you plan to visit to use the Snyder Papers.) (528.25 linear feet)
This collection is an example of information that an organization may choose to collect and circulate in order to keep staff current on safety issues. The bulk of the collection consists of an extensive set of CAB and NTSB accident reports, including general aviation as well as air carrier accidents. The collection also includes statistical summaries of accidents; CAA hearing notices; newsletters and safety bulletins from the NTSB and other organizations; and communications (internal and from outside agencies) related to accident reports. (11.67 linear feet)
The collection contains aircraft manuals and training materials. (2.65 linear feet)
Training and informational materials collected by United Airlines pilots John Zimmerman (B-767 captain) and Leslie King (B-747 captain). Includes United Airlines training material; CRM manuals and articles; security-related materials (issue of "Airport Magazine" on the first anniversary of September 11 attacks, as well as papers from a 1997 conference on disruptive airline passengers); ATC and TCAS reports; three Eastern Airlines items (high altitude operations and 1981 fleet reliability report); and miscellaneous other safety reports and documents. Span dates: 1976-2002. (1.25 linear feet)
Includes the Jerome Lederer Papers, Flight Safety Foundation records and publications, and a library of books, journals, manuals and reports on aviation safety, and security topics. Processing is ongoing. Please contact the archives for more information about the collection.
Photographs of German aircraft and personnel, as well as aerial reconnaissance photographs. Aircraft include Albatros, Pfalz and Fokker biplanes, and photographs include numerous accident wreckage images with accompanying captions regarding damage and injuries. Some post-war photographs (ca. 1920) are included. (1 binder, 0.3 linear feet)
John Paul Stapp pursued research in aerospace medicine and automotive safety. He is best known for his studies related to crash protection and human tolerance of acceleration/deceleration forces. The Stapp papers include publications, reports and presentations by Stapp, and records of Stapp's work at Edwards Air Force Base and the Aeromedicine Lab at Holloman Air Force Base. Also included are SAE committee correspondence, reference files, and books. (51.06 linear feet)
The Charles W. Miller papers document his aeronautical engineering work, his talent as an artist and cartoonist, and his interests in aviation history and aircraft design. The collection includes reports; design drawings, calculations and notes; memoranda; handbooks; and other reference material from Miller's work at Lockheed, Vega Aircraft Corporation, North American Aviation and Northrop Aircraft.
This collection contains records from Hall's tenure as Chair of the NTSB, 1993-2001, including extensive files on notable accidents (aviation and other modes) that occurred during this time, such as TWA 800, USAir flight 427, EqyptAir 990, Korean Air flight 801, COMAIR Flight 3272, Valujet Flight 592, Simmons Airlines/American Eagle flight 4184 (Roselawn) and others. The collection also includes materials related to NTSB administration; statements and speeches by Hall; conferences and meetings, as well as topics of concern/initiatives, such as child restraint systems; and addressing the needs of families following the loss of a loved one in an air crash. Also includes material on terrorism, the 9/11 attacks and the Gore Commission on Aviation Safety and Security.
Aeromedical research materials of Richard F. Chandler, former head of protection and survival laboratory at FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute. In addition to Chandler's own research, the collection includes significant documentation of work by John P. Stapp and Hugh de Haven.
Jack Hartmann was a sky marshal in the 1970s. The collection contains an oral history with Hartmann about airline security and his experiences as a sky marshal, as well as supplementary material from Hartmann. (0.21 linear feet)
Al Haynes was the captain of United Flight 232, which crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, after a catastrophic failure of the No. 2 engine led to the loss of the hydraulic systems that powered the airplane's flight controls. This is a VHS video recording of a lecture that he gave at Embry-Riddle Prescott.
This collection contains various materials collected by the archives. Included are subject (vertical) files; aviation accident reports (primarily NTSB but also other accident reports); other NTSB reports and studies, including special investigation reports and safety studies; FAA Aerospace Medicine reports; and assorted publications and video recordings on aviation safety and security topics.
These limited-edition prints were created as a tribute to the American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers" when they received the Milton Caniff Flight Award from the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Each print is signed by a surviving AVG pilot.
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Robertson Aviation Safety Center II (Building 22)
Prescott, Arizona 86301