Accident statistics

On 2006-09-19, Dan wrote:
So, based on these numbers, I have a 1.3% chance of a fatal accident
before I reach 1000 hours. Wow, that is a bit high....

But you will only kill 1.75 people in the plane[*]. If you carry 1.75
passengers all the time, the chances of YOU dying go way down. Just
make sure they don't wear their seatbelts.
[*] also 1.6% of one person on the ground. Maybe someone will lose a
hand.

--
Ben Jackson AD7GD

http://www.ben.com/

Marc,

Does anyone have any good sources for statistics on flying accidents.


The problem with all GA statistics is that flying hours are not
recorded in a reliable form, but rather estimated.

The problem about the worries of wives is that they are typically not
calmed by statistics or any other approach involving reason ;-)

Small aircraft GA is about as dangerous as riding a motor bike, IOW
more dangerous than driving a car. However, much of the dangers of
bikes come from drivers around you. Most of the dangers to a GA pilot
come from the pilot himself. "Don't do nothing stupid" is the prime
directive. Running out of fuel or pressing on into bad weather are
surprisingly common accident reasons.

In the end, it all comes down to what is an acceptable level of risk in
your life. There is no "zero risk", everything you do involves risk.
The question is: Is it acceptable to you and do you manage it well
enough to minimize it? In short: no risk, no fun.


--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Dudley,

Excellent advice!

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On 18 Sep 2006 14:12:25 -0700, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

As you have probably guessed, this information is for calming a wife's
worry about her husband's burgeoning interest in flying...

You're not going to be able to use the data, Marc. Statistically,
everything I've seen shows that flying a light plane is about the same
level of risk as riding a motorcycle.

Which, in my opinion, is quite acceptable. However, wives have been
known to disagree...

;-)

I agree with Jay on both counts. I would add, however, that the
opportunity to avoid being a statistic is more readily available in
the airplane. It is my opinion that the pilot of an airplane is in a
better position to influence the safety of the trip than a motorcycle
driver is. I do both, and I am very cognicent of the lesser level of
control that I have over the outcome of a motorcycle ride.

As noted, I do believe that the risk levels of the two activities are
similar enough to be relevant. I also believe that the risk is much
more random for the bike rider than it is for the pilot. A pilot who
is doing all that he can to enhance the safety of the flight will
likely fare better than the motorcylce rider who is doing the same.

I have accepted the risk level of both and have no intention of giving
either one up.
Rich Russell

Thomas Borchert wrote:

However, much of the dangers of
bikes come from drivers around you.

This point was driven home to me in a very real way one day when I was
following a pickup with a few mattresses stacked in the bed. I was
looking at the ties they guy had used to secure the mattresses, when I
noticed they weren't ties at all, just bits of rope that were still
tied to the eyes around the bed. The mattresses weren't tied down!!!

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, like clockwork, the top
mattress started to slide. I was directly behind the pickup, so the
mattress was aimed right at me. I changed lanes just as the mattress
slid off the truck, and it came far too close to me - maybe three feet.
It all happened in a split second. I sped up and passed the pickup, and
the guy wasn't even aware that he had lost a mattress.

I sold my motorcycle shortly after that.I was still in college then,
but I've got kids now, and for me riding a motorcycle is too great an
act of faith in the drivers around me. I know how people drive, and I
don't want my life in their hands.

Most of the dangers to a GA pilot
come from the pilot himself.

That's what I explained to my wife. The likelihood of hitting another
plane seems pretty slim. Weather is another problem, but at least you
can usually see it change.

The question is: Is it acceptable to you and do you manage it well
enough to minimize it? In short: no risk, no fun.

I finished my argument by promising to up my life insurance. That
seemed to satisfy her. gulp

Time to go hide the cooking knives...

Marc

Marc,

I finished my argument by promising to up my life insurance.


More important is to check if it covers death while piloting general
aviation airplanes.

If not, AOPA can be a great resource. Are you familiar with them?
Membership is highly recommended and comes with a nice magazine for 38
$ a year. www.aopa.org.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Marc Adler wrote:

It all happened in a split second. I sped up and passed the pickup, and
the guy wasn't even aware that he had lost a mattress.

I'm very anal about securing loads in my trucks and trailers but am
always amazed at how many people will tailgate me while I'm loaded.

Glad to hear your attentiveness served you well!

Thomas Borchert wrote:

More important is to check if it covers death while piloting general
aviation airplanes.

Ah...

If not, AOPA can be a great resource. Are you familiar with them?
Membership is highly recommended and comes with a nice magazine for 38
$ a year. www.aopa.org.

I'll check it out. Thanks for all the info.

Marc

B A R R Y wrote:

I'm very anal about securing loads in my trucks and trailers but am
always amazed at how many people will tailgate me while I'm loaded.

Also, why isn't carrying people in the bed illegal? Just a few months
ago four women died in Hawaii when the truck whose bed they were riding
in collided with another car.

The scary thing is all the kids you see riding around in the beds of
pickups. You don't even need to crash. One sharp turn could send them
flying.

Glad to hear your attentiveness served you well!

That makes two of us!

Marc

In article ,
B A R R Y wrote:

Marc Adler wrote:

It all happened in a split second. I sped up and passed the pickup, and
the guy wasn't even aware that he had lost a mattress.

I'm very anal about securing loads in my trucks and trailers but am
always amazed at how many people will tailgate me while I'm loaded.


.....especially those cop cars with flashing lights! They really don't
like it if you are driving around loaded! ;)