Flight Crew Expert Witnesses

Petaluma, California

Aviation & Aerospace, Accident Reconstruction - Aircraft Accidents, Airline, Corporate, General Aviation, Flight Crew, Business Jet Accidents, Flight Training, Aviation Safety, InFlight Emergency, Pilot Error, Maintenance Negligence, Crash Investigation, Aircraft Safety, Corporate Jet Accidents, CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain), Loss of Control, Flight Attendant Accidents

Captain Botta brings over 35 years experience as an International Airline and Corporate Jet Captain grounded in a deep General Aviation Background. He also offers a unique dual perspective with 10 years in private practice as a former Licensed Professional Counselor, providing rare insight into the human factors behind aviation accidents and incidents. AVIATION EXPERT CASE RECENCY (current as of 3/26) • Regional Carrier CRJ900, hard braking event, resulting in passenger and Flight Attendant injuries • Regional Carrier, passenger dry ice injury • Wrong-surface event – ongoing investigation and expert opinion • Whistleblower case – major jet charter operator • Wrong-surface event • Wrongful death case • Pilot competency, pilot incapacity, and aeromedical issues (multiple cases opined) • Deposed twice within the past 5 years • SEAK Expert Witness Training completed • Listed in SEAK Expert Witness Directory Representative Commentary & Industry Insights June 2025: “Wrong surface ev...

Ormond Beach, Florida

Aviation & Aerospace, Human Factors - Aviation, Pilots, Flight Crew, Cabin Crew, FAA Aeromedical Certification, HIMS, Accident Investigation, Survivability, Injury Causation, Human Factors & Aerospace Safety, HSEQ, Airlines, Patient Safety, Medical Error, NTSB, Aerospace Medicine, Flight Surgeon, Occupational Medicine, Medical Device Usability, Medical Technolog

Award-winning physician-scientist, aerospace medicine specialist, and human factors expert with over 15 years of experience supporting safety, human performance, and operational resilience in aviation, aerospace, healthcare, and other high-consequence environments. Extensive expertise in accident investigation, human performance analysis, survivability, safety systems, operational risk management, and human-systems integration. Recipient of the 2024 Aerospace Medical Association John Paul Stapp Award, recognizing contributions to aerospace medicine and human performance research related to accident investigation and injuries caused by vibration, impact, and ejection forces. Professional experience includes multidisciplinary aviation accident and incident investigations involving human factors, aeromedical causation, survivability, organizational safety, and operational performance. Contributed to over 30 aviation accident and incident investigations, including major accidents, whi...