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Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-96/3

Title and Subtitle: Crashes of instructional flights: Analysis of cases and remedial approaches, ADA304890

Report Date: February 1996

Authors: Baker SP, Lan MW, Li G, and Doss RS

Abstract: Instructional flights experience more than 300 crashes annually and are involved in more than one-third of all midair collisions. Research was undertaken to identify the circumstances of instructional crashes and describe factors related to pilots, aircraft, and the environment.

Methods: NTSB data tapes were analyzed for crashes during 1989-1992 that involved a student pilot or a flight for instructional purposes.

Results: During 1989-1992, 1226 instructional airplanes were involved in crashes, resulting in 250 deaths and 128 serious injuries. Midair collisions during these four years involved 38 instructional airplanes (2.5%) and accounted for 20% of all deaths. Sixteen pilots in midair collisions were on solo flights; on average, they were younger but more experienced than trainees in other crashes on solo. Detailed review of crashes during 1989 and 1991 revealed that loss of control on landing characterized 227 of the 638 crashes, or 36%. Crosswinds contributed to 28% of all crashes. The 94 stalls were 15% of the series and 46% of all fatal crashes. Student solos were 51% of the series; 193 of the 360 students on solo foundered due to loss of control on landing or takeoff. Touch-and-go landings accounted for 22% of all crashes on solo.

Among the 84 crashes on cross-country solos, 26 (31%) were due to running out of fuel. Thirty-four (40%) of the trainees who crashed on cross-country solos had not filed flight plans. Twenty-three pilots flying with student licenses were illegally carrying one or more passengers. In 13 of the 25 crashes due to carburetor icing, the problem began during cruise phase. Instructors were present in 50% of crashes from stalls and 32% of crashes from fuel starvation. Simulated emergencies ended in 49 crashes. The NTSB identified factors related to the instructor as contributory in one-third of the cases. Many incidents reported to ASRS occurred under circumstances similar to the crashes. For example, in both data bases, aircraft in midair collisions or near-collisions included several piloted by a student under a hood and two collisions with helicopters.

Key Words: Flight Training, Instructional Flights, Aircraft Crashes, Certified Flight Instruction, NTSB Accident Database, ASRS Incident Database

No. of Pages: 55