Top 10 Causes of FATAL General Aviation Accidents

Presented to: Sun n’ Fun

By: TONY JAMES

Air Safety Investigator , AVP-100

Date: MARCH 27, 2012

Federal AviationAdministrationTOP TEN CAUSES

OF GENERAL

AVIATION ACCIDENTS

2 2Federal AviationAdministration

General Aviation Accident Investigation

OVERVIEW

• Getting results through non-regulatory, productive strategy and education.

• Help to understand why accidents occur.

• One of the FAA’s top priorities is to reduce the number of fatal accidents in general aviation.

• Develop an accurate picture of contributing factors.



NUMBER TEN

WINDSHEAR or THUNDERSTORM

Preflight Planning, Weather Knowledge, “Get Home ‘itis”

Contributing Factors Distraction, Monitoring Airspeed, Situational

Awareness, Multitasking





Scott Crossfield



NUMBER NINE

MIDAIR COLLISIONS

Traffic Pattern, Fly Ins, Glider Operations,

Practice Areas

Contributing Factors

Distractions, Situational Awareness

Instructional Flight







NUMBER EIGHT

System Component FailureNon-Powerplant

Electrical Failure, Cabin Fire/Smoke, Vacuum Pump Failure, Carbon Monoxide

Contributing Factors Airspeed, Situational Awareness, Distraction,

Pilot Fatigue, Maintenance, Preflight





•NTSB Identification: CHI01MA011. Accident occurred Monday, October 16, 2000 in

HILLSBORO, MOAircraft: Cessna 335, registration: N8354N

Injuries: 3 Fatal.

The pilot's failure to control the airplane while maneuvering because of spatial disorientation.

Contributing to the accident were the failure of the airplane's primary attitude indicator and the adverse

weather conditions, including turbulence.



NUMBER SEVEN

• FUEL RELATED• Bad Gauges/A Good Watch, Preflight

Planning, Weather/Winds, Fuel Management, Systems Knowledge

Contributing Factors• Distraction and Trust, Flight Crew

Experience and Planning





•NTSB Identification: ERA10FA502

Accident occurred Friday, September 24, 2010 in Chatsworth, GA

Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N84249Injuries: 2 Fatal,1 Serious.

•The pilot's inadequate flight planning and in-flight fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the

accident was the operator's failure to ensure aircraft records pertaining to engine modifications and fuel

burn rates were available to flight crewmembers



NUMBER SIX

OTHER

• Instrument Approach Procedures, Track and Altitude Flown, Pilots Situational Awareness

are Unknown

Contributing FactorsNon rated Instrument pilot

Got to get there ‘itis







NUMBER FIVE

UNKNOWN OR UNDETERMINEDSelf Explanatory, No Witness, Recorders,

Non-Volatile Memory (GPS)


Airspeed Control, Bank Angle,

Situational Awareness, and Distraction

And Lots of Other Things!



Steve Fossett



NUMBER FOUR

LOW ALTITUDE OPERATIONS

• Pipe/Power Line Patrol, Crop Duster, Fire Fighting, EMS Operations

Contributing Factors• Distractions, Situational Awareness,

• Out-of-Date Charts, Cell Phones



P-3B Air Tanker



NUMBER THREE

SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURE POWERPLANT

Single Drive Mags, Cylinders, Valves, Cam/Crankshafts, Pumps, and other

components

Contributing FactorsMaintenance, Preflight



Rear cylinder separation



NUMBER TWO

CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN

• Rising Mountainous Terrain, Dark Night (Moonless), Cleared for the Visual

• Contributing Factors Situational Awareness, Training, Preflight

Planning, Distractions



KingAir B-200 N45MF

• On 2/6/07 the aircraft collided with mountainous terrain.

• Night VMC conditions prevailed at the destination.

• Wind 300@4kts, 10SM, 11,000 overcast.

• The pilot stated to ATC that Bozeman was in sight and was cleared to descend from 15,000’ to 13,000’.

• The pilot acknowledged and requested a visual approach.

• The aircraft was cleared for the visual and radar services were terminated. (coverage to 11,000’)

• The wreckage was located approx. 80 feet below the peak of a ridgeline at an elevation of approx. 5,700’.



•LAST RADAR HIT

•IMPACT POINT





•Top of Ridge



Number One

Loss of Control in Flight

Environmental Conditions/Wind, Experience, Perceptual, Physical/Sensory


Airspeed Control, Distraction, Situational Awareness, Currency, Medical







Summation

The FAA has focused on pilot Education and Awareness,

However, better Technology has given

the pilot

Better Safety Tools.



Contact InformationTONY JAMES

Air Safety InvestigatorUS Department of TransportationFederal Aviation Administration

Accident Investigation Division, AVP-100800 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, DC 20591

(202) 267-7619

[email protected]

Date post:	13-May-2015
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