On 4 Dec 2003 09:34:35 -0800, (Jay) wrote:

I also understand that an emergency off airport landing is not a
reported incident if there is no property damage. So if I lose power
and land on a freeway, as long as I'm able to merge with traffic and
not hit anything, it doesn't end up in the statistics. So this means
the incident stats are showing a more rosey impression than is real of
the state of reliability of GA.

NTSB Part 830 specifies when accidents are reportable. Reportable
occurrence must include one of the following:

1. Death
2. Serious injury
3. "Substantial damage" to the aircraft.

Without one of these events occurring it's considered an incident and thus
not required to be reported. However, incidents involving:

- Flight control system malfunction or failure
- Crew incapacitation
- Turbine engine structural failure
- In-flight fires
- Midairs
- Damage to property other than the aircraft exceeding $25k

....also must be reported (plus other events for large multiengine
aircraft). Engine failures, per se, are not required to be reported if the
damage is limited to the engine.

Ron Wanttaja