I’ve Known Some Good Doctor Pilots—and Some Unlucky Ones

In 1966, the FAA released a report that found that physicians had a fatality rate four times greater than other pilots.

Friday, March 07, 2025 at 09:02 AM ET

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The NBAA lanyard around his neck telegraphed the author’s desire to shift his career from medicine to aviation. [Courtesy: Dick Karl]

Key Takeaways:

The author recounts the tragic deaths of two highly skilled doctor-pilots, prompting an exploration into why physicians historically have a higher rate of aviation accidents.
A key distinction is drawn between the competitive, error-averse culture of medicine and aviation's collaborative, support-driven safety culture that is "predicated on the assumption that people screw up."
While historical explanations for "doctor in a Bonanza" accidents (e.g., arrogance, get-home-itis) don't fully apply to his meticulous friends, the author suggests the differing safety paradigms between the two professions might play a role.

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As a newcomer to Tampa years ago I looked for a good maintenance shop to care for my Cessna P210. At the hospital where I worked I met a young neurosurgeon in the doctors lounge who recommended Aircraft Engineering in Bartow, Florida. It proved to be an excellent suggestion, and soon we were constantly talking about airplanes and giving each other rides to Bartow to pick up or drop off our planes.

Within a few years, a plastic surgeon arrived and joined the group of doctors who would fly to Bartow on a Saturday for lunch with maintenance folks.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.