The National Transportation Safety Board’s decision to add “loss of control” to its 10 Most Wanted list of safety improvements in 2015 served as another clarion call for help to stem what has become the top killer in airplanes of all shapes and sizes. While pilots losing control of their aircraft is not a new problem, a number of high-profile commercial aviation accidents — including the 2009 crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Buffalo, New York — brought the topic front and center to pilots over the past decade, with the NTSB’s listing putting a harsh spotlight on the issue. The Buffalo accident led to Public Law 111-216, which will soon require upset prevention and recovery training, as well as full-stall simulator training, for Part 121 commercial air carrier pilots.
The Persistent Threat of Loss of Control
Key Takeaways:
- Loss of Control (LOC) is the primary cause of aviation fatalities, and while commercial aviation has successfully mandated Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) to nearly eliminate fatal LOC accidents, general aviation (GA) still struggles significantly with this issue.
- General aviation pilots often lack a comprehensive understanding of the aerodynamics leading to LOC and receive insufficient training that doesn't adequately prepare them for real-world upset scenarios, such as unexpected stalls or mishandled turns near the ground.
- Experts urge a critical overhaul of GA pilot training to move beyond minimum regulatory standards, advocating for more comprehensive UPRT focused on awareness, prevention, and recovery, ideally introduced at the private pilot level, to effectively reduce LOC-related fatalities.
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