The AOPA Air Safety Institute (AOPA/ASI) recently released the latest in its continuing series of Joseph T. Nall Reports, the 31st. As with last year’s release of two years’ worth of data, AOPA/ASI is publishing the latest report on its web site, which allows it to provide monthly updates as new numbers flow in. As the organization states, the new format presents “users with near real-time accident analysis updated on a rolling 30-day cycle.” By going all-electronic, data from 2008 to the most recent month is available in one place.
That’s the good news. The bad news, according to AOPA/ASI? “Fatal accident rates in non-commercial fixed-wing, commercial fixed-wing, and commercial helicopter all rose,” although non-commercial helicopter accident rates fell, which isn’t to be ignored. Breaking down the data into potential solutions, the AOPA/ASI said, “Stall/loss-of-control events continue to be the leading causal factor and weather-related accidents remain highly lethal. These accident causes relate to pilot decision-making and proficiency and this data helps inform the industry.” This development is despite a reduced total number of accidents, including fatal mishaps. In other words, we’re flying less and crashing more often.
