I must confess I found volume 3 of this series to be something of a letdown. The second volume had it all: text, pictures, balance. This one focused almost exclusively on the mechanics of each accident, and read like an aerial police report at times. One almost felt like an FAA official at his desk, signing off on documents and recommendations. Volume 2 was certainly a more enjoyable read.

Yet this work was far from a failure by any means. Technical enthusiasts may even find it better than the last two. We learn an awful lot about what keeps a plane in the air (or not) and I believe most of us could stand to learn a thing or two in this area, even if it is dull at times. The last three chapters are the best, and rank with the other books for enjoyability. The account of the Russian Airbus crash of '94, where the captain gave over controls to his son, is especially fascinating. Perhaps the theme of this volume is that even with advanced computers and flight controls, one disregards the laws of aerodynamics at one's own risk.