Although somewhat dated, still an interesting insight into the protection of aviation safety with a bit of human drama to keep it interesting.

I first read John J. Nance’s _Final Approach_ in print soon after it was originally published 1990. Thirty-plus years later, it remains a compelling legal thriller and techno who-done-it. The plot is plausible, and the novel has well-rounded principal characters. I remember that the print edition carried an afterword from Nance in which he discussed the pedantic purpose of his novel — (SPOILER ALERT) to press for systematic change in the organization of the NTSB, whose staff then, as now, is responsible for investigating air accidents, but also those involving motor carriers, railroads, and pipelines. Thirty years later in this digital edition, the afterword is gone, but the vast sphere of NTSB responsibilities remains.

Great read. Holds your attention until the very last page. Can’t put down!!

I enjoyed the story itself, even if it was a little character heavy. Slow start to it with all the technical terms, but it sped up and great ending!

Flimsy characters. Contrived rationale. Silly decisions. Finally just quit reading a little over half way.

One of the best books I've ever read. The characters were believable and were exciting to follow. Although it was fiction, it was easy to see how political pressures as well as national security can affect an investigation. I heartily recommend this book.

A great read that takes you through the behind the scenes of the airline industry, the FAA and the NTSB. A realistic look at how human factors, coupled with politics and underfunded safety initiatives can spell disaster. Filled with action, emotion and a storyline to keep you up late into the night.

An intriguing and mystifying story about aviation.

The first chapters made me so emotional that I questioned whether I could keep reading. As I continued there were still times when the emotion was hard to take. The characters were so well developed that I quickly became invested with them. They were all people I knew or had dealt with. As a retired Federal employee, I think the hostile interaction between the career employees and the political appointees was very accurate. The many twists and turns as the plot develops made the book very engrossing and difficult to put down. The ending was a little contrived, but acceptable, with one loose end left hanging. If you can handle the gut-wrenching impact of an airplane crash in the beginning, the book is exciting and a good read.