Pilot-Related

We all want to fly safely, but it doesn’t work out that way sometimes. The accident record is filled with instances in which a pilot or two failed to fully implement that desire. Although pilots always are finding new ways to bend airplanes, that’s not the norm. Instead, too many accidents are repeats of pilots’ past poor performances: Sadly, we keep doing the same things, but expect different results.

Editorial Staff

Friday, November 16, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilot error is the predominant cause of General Aviation accidents, accounting for over 70% of incidents, far exceeding mechanical failures or unknown causes.
Common pilot-related accident categories identified include fuel mismanagement, continuing VFR flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), low-level maneuvering, and errors during takeoff or landing.
These pilot errors can be broadly categorized as failures in flight planning or in-flight decision-making, or deficiencies in airmanship and skills.
Prevention strategies involve acquiring targeted training and practice to improve piloting skills, and actively learning from others and experience to enhance decision-making.

See a mistake? Contact us.

So, what are some of the things we keep doing to find ourselves in the NTSB database? Once we identify what they are, what can we do to prevent ourselves from repeating them? Using the most recent Joseph T. Nall Report from the AOPA Air Safety Institute (ASI), which looks at accidents during 2010 as well as how they stacked up historically, let’s find out.