Aspects of general aviation flight safety research

Abstract

The largest cause of General Aviation Accidents is shown through an analysis of the 283 UK fatal accidents between 1980 and 2006 to be loss of control, most usually at low level. Evaluating the reasons behind this, it is shown to be due to a combination of aircraft characteristics and pilot situational awareness and response. The statistical analysis also shows that there are marked differences in the incidence of these accidents between some aircraft types, and this along with systems analysis and simulator experimental work has been used as a mechanism for researching how and why these accidents occur. A proposed mechanism is described, along with an ongoing programme of research, centred on certain single engined aeroplanes, aiming to investigate this and produce recommendations both for aircraft design and pilot training.