An Ounce Of Prevention

While this article targets what to do post-crunch, it cant hurt to think a little about how to avoid having to worry about the whole issue. As briefly and bluntly as possible, if you want to avoid an accident the data clearly show the single most effective way to do so is to take regular recurrent training. Take an hour of dual every six months-it will cut your risk of damaging an airplane substantially. Better still, get involved with and stay current in the FAA WINGS program. The accident rate for pilots who do so is so close to zero; its astonishing.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Regular recurrent pilot training, particularly involvement in the FAA WINGS program, is the most effective method to significantly reduce the risk of aviation accidents.
Pilots face the highest risk of fatal accidents when flying VFR in low VFR or IMC weather conditions, and the greatest risk of non-fatal accidents from runway loss of control, often due to crosswinds.
To prevent serious injury in an accident, always wear a shoulder harness in addition to the seatbelt, as it is crucial for preventing deadly head impacts.

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While this article targets what to do post-crunch, it can’t hurt to think a little about how to avoid having to worry about the whole issue. As briefly and bluntly as possible, if you want to avoid an accident the data clearly show the single most effective way to do so is to take regular recurrent training. Take an hour of dual every six months—it will cut your risk of damaging an airplane substantially. Better still, get involved with and stay current in the FAA WINGS program. The accident rate for pilots who do so is so close to zero; it’s astonishing.