NTSB To GA: You Can Do Better

The predominate causes of general aviation accidents aren’t a mystery. Each month in these pages, each year in the AOPA Aviation Safety Institute’s Nall Report and every day at the NTSB, mishaps are reviewed, dissected, catalogued and judged. The depressing thing about this process is the mind-numbing predictability of it all: Over time, some specific proportion of general aviation accidents will be caused by one thing while other causes will have their own percentage. The numbers don’t change that much from month to month, or year to year. It’s frustrating.

Key Takeaways:

• General aviation accidents are depressingly predictable and largely preventable, with recurring causes frustrating safety authorities like the NTSB.
• Major accident causes stem from pilot errors, including low-altitude stalls (often due to "showing off"), spatial disorientation, controlled flight into terrain in reduced visibility, and ineffective risk management.
• Mechanical problems contribute significantly, often resulting from pilots ignoring warning signs or mechanics making errors due to factors like fatigue or inadequate procedures.
• Ultimately, many accidents could be prevented through better pilot decision-making, improved risk management, and diligent attention to aircraft condition and maintenance by both pilots and mechanics.

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