[prkaye]

My friend works at Transport Canada, and she told me that apparently accident statistics aren't compiled specifically for general aviation. Everybody knows that "statistically flying is safer than driving", but on a per-passenger-mile basis, this is heavily weighted by the incredible safety record of air carriers. I am wondering how the safety specifically of General Aviation compares with that of driving. Are these statistics compiled in the US by the FAA?

 

[gmcjetpilot]

Liars figure and figures lie

My friend works at Transport Canada, and she told me that apparently accident statistics aren't compiled specifically for general aviation. Everybody knows that "statistically flying is safer than driving", but on a per-passenger-mile basis, this is heavily weighted by the incredible safety record of air carriers. I am wondering how the safety specifically of General Aviation compares with that of driving. Are these statistics compiled in the US by the FAA?

AOPA has the stats for GA. Of course it comes from NTSB. The go through and break it all out, single engine, multi engine, fixed gear, retract, piston, turboprop, jet, VFR/IFR ops and reason for accident: mechanical, weather, pilot......and so on. (There is a break out experimental aircraft.)

If you google it you will likely come up with it. Most of AOPA's stuff is for only for members but I was able to get this.

Here is the "Nall REPORT" (almost 3.0 mb):
http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/06nall.pdf

Under accident analysis you can search the data base:
http://www.aopa.org/asf/

This is summary's of major "types" of accident causes (like fuel exhaustion)
http://www.aopa.org/asf/accident_data/searches.html

Now what do you want to know? I did a quick google and also got this:

http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/topics/gatrend.pdf
http://www.aopa.org/special/newsroom/stats/safety.html
http://www.aopa.org/asf/accident_data/accident_stats.html
http://www.gaservingamerica.org/Is_it_Safe.htm

In the late 1990's the fatal accidents where in the 400's now they are in the low 300's, year 2005-06.

What is hard to figure is accident per flight hours. Since hours for GA planes are only estimated. Commercial aviation is closely tracked.

Just keep in mind with statistics you can be miss lead if not careful. If you took statistics in college you know what I mean. However these stats are clear. Its getting better, but we have a long way to go.

UNLIKE looking at a car accident on the side of the ROAD, I think study of the stats and real pilot stories can make all of us all better pilots. It has nothing to do with voyeurism or condemnation of others, just learning to make us better airman and decision makers.

Long ago as a young pilot, reading about accidents I came to the conclusion, I could avoid being an accident statistic, if I did a few simple things. I learned, avoid running out of gas, stay current and proficient, avoid flying in bad weather, fly a mechanically safe plane and last, follow proper procedures, practices and rules. I knew I'd be much safer than the statistics. All these things are also with in my control. I knew if I violated any of these basics, my chance of accident went up.

Have I come close? Well I have landed with less fuel than I liked. I flew in weather I wish after I never attempted. I flew a plane that was not 100% to put it kindly. In all cases it "worked out", but what was more important was why and what made me take those paths and extra risk. That is the part each pilot has to understand about his or her self. It's a tricky thing to understand about yourself.

The trick, use the "frame work" or rules to save "you" from "yourself" and wishful thinking. That process of understanding decision making is an on going one your whole flying career. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes, but that is why we have safety margins, which can just be the airspeed and altitude under our wings and fuel in our tanks, to the 180 degree turn and precautionary landing when facing that black cloud with lightning coming out of it.

Some accidents will never be 100% eliminated but I really wounder what the pilot was thinking that got them into that situation, not to criticize or ridicule but to make sure I don't have that same thought process in my decision making. I have heard some very good reasons for making really bad decisions in a cockpit.

It can happen to any of us. That keeps me careful, because I know it can happen to me, no matter how many hours I accumulate. Learning from others mistakes is good. However fate is the hunter. Be careful. What is that sign they have in factories? "Safety is no accident".

 

[John_RV4]

Flight Hours proposal..

>What is hard to figure is accident per flight hours. Since hours for GA planes are only estimated. Commercial aviation is closely tracked.

How about this:

We ask our friends at NASA to create a mini ASRS form. It contains the following:

Name
Address
N number
Aircraft Make
Aircraft Model
Hours flown in last 12 months.

That's it.

At the end of the year when you re-register your plane, you send in this form and attach the receipt to your logbook. You're not "legal" unless you have the receipt. Like regular ASRS forms, the FAA gets nothing. NASA issues a simple report at the end of the year with total hours for the fleet and by make and model.

With that one simple form, all of the ambiguity goes away. We know how many hours were flown and by what type of aircraft.

One caveat: If we did have the numbers, I wonder if we would feel better or worse......

John

 

[WSBuilder]

I could avoid being an accident statistic, if I did a few simple things. I learned:

Great advice. AND these things need be thought out and decided long before you're in the situation, otherwise you're inclined to make a more rash decision. That's what's interesting about flying and risk management: you can elect how much risk you're willing to take.

 

[Robert M]

Went to a local safety seminar and there were stats given out as to why private pilots/planes crash. Seems that the same number (percentage) of pilots are crashing their planes for the same 4 reasons decade after decade.

Running out of gas, VFR into IMC, overloading - and I apologise for not remembering the last one. I'll bet the last reason was probably because the pilot forgot something.