Good News, Bad News for GA

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation Joseph T. Nall Report has been published, reflecting general aviation accidents trends based on 2007 data.

The number of accidents increased in 2007, which is worrisome, but the number of fatalities declined, as did the rate of fatal accidents.

The latest Nall Report reflects a historic low of 252 fatal accidents (down 5.6 percent from the previous year). The 449 total fatalities also represents a new low, decreasing by 9.7 percent. The rate of fatal accidents of 1.18 per 100,000 flight hours shows marked improvement over the previous six years, but still misses the historic low set in 1999 (1.11).

Total pilot-related accidents in 2007 showed a slight increase over the previous year, with a gain of 2.4 percent for total (996 versus 973) and a decrease of 11.6 percent for fatal (191 versus 216) accidents.

In 2007, personal flights accounted for 39 percent of general aviation flying, but 69 percent of total accidents and 73 percent of fatal accidents.

Maneuvering remains one of the leading causes of general aviation accidents with 91 total and 51 fatal accidents. Meanwhile, fatal descent and approach accidents dropped sharply from 14 percent of the fatal crashes in 2006 to nine percent in 2007.

Weather-related accidents continue to be among the most lethal types, with 82 percent of such accidents causing death.  Forty-one of the 50 weather-related accidents resulted from pilots attempting to continue VFR flights into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Because of the high percentage of fatal accidents, the foundation is continuing to develop new courses for its Weather Wise online series of safety education programs.

The Air Safety Foundation also noted a significant uptick in the number of accidents involving experimental aircraft during 2007. As a result, the foundation plans further research to determine whether or not there are specific problem areas, and then work with other experimental aircraft experts to look for safety solutions.