Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Two professional pilots. An empty regional jet. A night flight with no one watching. On October 14, 2004, the crew of Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701 climbed to 41,000 feet — the absolute maximum certified altitude of their CRJ-200 — as part of an informal pilot club no one in management even knew existed. What followed was a chain of bad decisions, a dual engine failure, and a crash that killed both pilots and changed the airline industry forever. Dan Millican breaks down the NTSB findings on one of regional aviation's most consequential accidents — and what it cost everyone to learn that superior judgment always trumps superior skill. If you're not subscribed to TakingOff, now's a great time.
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TakingOff is sponsored by: FlyingEyes – Get 10% at flyingeyesoptics.com/pages/taking-offs-discount
ColtenTakingOff.com coltenmortgage.com/takingoff – For your residential mortgage or refi needs. Run by a pilot!
XeVision.com –Extreme LED Landing Lights, xevision.com the only competitor is the sun!
clemensinsurance.net – Your broker should be advocating on your behalf—call Clemens to have someone in your corner fighting for you!
Marshal Protective Services – mpsprotects.com Private Security Elevated!
The large METAR map on the set is from metarmaps.com Mention TakingOff as you go buy one!
The TakingOff Team uses Lightspeed Headsets. Support us by buying your Lightspeed through our link: https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?r...
Two professional pilots. An empty regional jet. A night flight with no one watching. On October 14, 2004, the crew of Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701 climbed to 41,000 feet — the absolute maximum certified altitude of their CRJ-200 — as part of an informal pilot club no one in management even knew existed. What followed was a chain of bad decisions, a dual engine failure, and a crash that killed both pilots and changed the airline industry forever. Dan Millican breaks down the NTSB findings on one of regional aviation's most consequential accidents — and what it cost everyone to learn that superior judgment always trumps superior skill. If you're not subscribed to TakingOff, now's a great time.
Join AEROVERSE! Use our code TakingOff for 15% off!!! aeroverse.com
TakingOff is sponsored by: FlyingEyes – Get 10% at flyingeyesoptics.com/pages/taking-offs-discount
ColtenTakingOff.com coltenmortgage.com/takingoff – For your residential mortgage or refi needs. Run by a pilot!
XeVision.com –Extreme LED Landing Lights, xevision.com the only competitor is the sun!
clemensinsurance.net – Your broker should be advocating on your behalf—call Clemens to have someone in your corner fighting for you!
Marshal Protective Services – mpsprotects.com Private Security Elevated!
The large METAR map on the set is from metarmaps.com Mention TakingOff as you go buy one!
The TakingOff Team uses Lightspeed Headsets. Support us by buying your Lightspeed through our link: https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?r...
