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NTSB report on Improve General Aviation Safety - While
commercial aviation continues to have a strong safety
record of 2 years without a fatal accident, the NTSB
continues to investigate about 1,500 accidents each year
in general aviation. In many cases, pilots did not have
the adequate knowledge, skills, or recurrent training to
fly safely, particularly in questionable weather
conditions. In addition, the more sophisticated "glass"
cockpit displays present a new layer of complications
for general aviation pilots. And not only are pilots
dying due to human error and inadequate training, but
also they are frequently transporting their families who
suffer the same tragic fate.
NTSB, what can be done? The NTSB reports that in general
aviation accident investigations, the NTSB sees similar
accident circumstances time after time. Adequate
education and training and screening for risky behavior
are critical to improving general aviation safety. For
example, guidance materials should include information
on the use of Internet, satellite, and other data
sources for obtaining weather information. Training
materials should include elements on electronic primary
flight displays, and pilots should have access to flight
simulators that provide equipment-specific electronic
avionics displays.
Knowledge tests and flight reviews should test for
awareness of weather, use of instruments, and use of
"glass" cockpits. And there should be a mechanism for
identifying at-risk pilots and addressing risks so that
both the pilot and passengers can safely fly.
Human error in general aviation accidents is not solely
a pilot problem. Aircraft maintenance workers should
also be required to undergo recurrent training to keep
them up to date with the best practices for inspecting
and maintaining electrical systems, circuit breakers,
and aged wiring.
Statistics
General aviation has the highest aviation accident rate
within civil aviation. The rate is 6 times higher than
for small commuter operators and 40 times higher than
for transport category operations. Although the overall
general aviation accident rate has remained relatively
steady at an average of 6.8 per 100,000 flight hours,
the components of that figure have changed dramatically
over the last 10 years.
In particular, personal flying accident rates have
increased 20 percent, while the fatal accident rate
has increased 25 percent over the same 10-year
period. The NTSB sees this statistic play out
frequently, having investigated an average of 1,500
general aviation accidents each year, in which more
than 400 pilots and passengers are killed annually.
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