CASA Media Release - Friday, 2 April 2004
Common mistakes behind most aircraft crashes
Mistakes by pilots in three key areas are behind most fatal general aviation accidents in Australia.
Pilots make errors in flight planning, aircraft handling and fuel management, with these factors contributing to 78 per cent of fatal light aircraft accidents.
The findings are contained in a study by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of fatal general aviation accidents over the ten years between 1991 and 2000. Data for the study was provided by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which worked with CASA in interpreting the information.
The two biggest problem areas are poor flight planning and mistakes in aircraft handling.
Flight planning problems include flying into bad weather without adequate instrument training, unnecessary low flight, poor responses to emergencies and flying in darkness without adequate training.
Visual flight rules pilots who fly into weather conditions that require a greater use of instruments contribute to 25 per cent of the fatal crashes involving flight planning mistakes.
Unnecessary low flight is a factor in 17 per cent of fatal accidents, emergencies 9 per cent and flying in darkness without adequate training 8 per cent.
Where handling errors contribute to fatal light aircraft accidents, mishandling is the biggest factor at 59 per cent. This is followed by poor pilot response to emergencies at 19 per cent, incorrect configuration of aircraft is evident in 13 per cent and unnecessary manoeuvres are identified in 9 per cent of crashes.
Fuel problems are present in 10 per cent of all fatal light aircraft accidents in Australia. This includes situations where pilots make mistakes with fuel management and where the aircraft completely runs out of fuel.
Other factors that contribute to crashes include aircraft loading mistakes, engine problems, failure to comply with air traffic control and communications problems. The average age of pilots killed in light aircraft accidents is 43.
Private and personal business flights account for 53 per cent of accidents, 17 per cent are charter, 13 per cent agriculture, 12 per cent other aerial work and 5 per cent flying training.
CASA will work with the aviation industry to improve pilot training to address the findings of study.
CASA chief executive, Bruce Byron, says better pilot training can reduce the level of mistakes and lift awareness of areas of risk during flights.
“Improved pilot training can be a preventative weapon against mistakes and crashes and CASA will support the aviation industry in striving for the best possible standards in Australia,” Mr Byron says.
The full report can be downloaded from the CASA web site:
Media contact
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0410