The danger of general aviation? The facts and my approach

This is one of the most common questions I see about general aviation... how dangerous is it? I think the data is pretty interesting, but even more interesting is the cause of accidents. It's worth looking at and understanding what we can do to make this great hobby as safe as we can.

Video Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:09 The Data of Aviation Accidents
0:57 Are Accidents Random?
1:29 The Causes of Aviation Accidents
4:05 How Dangerous Situations Happen in the Real World
5:33 Engine Reliability in General Aviation
6:22 All That Matters: The Next Flight
6:52 My Stance on the Safety of GA - Point 1
7:16 My Stance on the Safety of GA - Point 2

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[YahFllr]

My wife had total engine failure at 7000 ft, with three of our children in the back seat. There happen to be a county airport in the area and she turned the Cessna into a glider and safely landed onto the runway. All these while engine oil all over the windshield. She said with the three children in the airplane, that Mommy Angus kicked in and she was going to get onto the ground safely!!

[buckshot]

One of the best books I’ve ever read on this subject is, “The Killing Zone - How and Why Pilots Die” by Dr. Paul A Craig. Dr Craig is an ATP, and a Gold Seal Flight Instructor for multi-engine, instrument, and seaplane. Since 2002, he has completed safety research projects for universities, the FAA, and NASA. I strongly recommend this resource, alongside the channel, for anyone who consistently strives to have one takeoff equal one landing. Thanks for continuing to illustrate safety, Charlie. ✈️👍

[toastmasterstoast-a-matics]

My husband has been piloting for nearly 18 years. He remembers ALL the time; there are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. But there aren't very many old, bold pilots. My hubby intends to be an old pilot. He's incredibly careful.

[thomasmoezer]

Great Video, Charlie.
Single most important driver for safety is the pilot's attitude towards risk.
You can only become experienced if you survive your mistakes!

[JaidenJimenez]

When I started learning to fly, I did get some comments about "aren't you afraid you might have an accident?" or whatever, but it's no different to what I do every night as a trucker. I can just as easily stall-spin on approach as I can lose my trailer and go down an embankment cause I didn't check the tyres. I can have a bird strike on takeoff, but someone can throw a brick off an overpass... it's no different.

[Kaimine]

Aviation is one of the most unforgiveable hobbies you can have for those that are careless. If you suspect something is wrong, it is your choice if you want to pursue it and how you want to go about it. Listen to your gut, your gut is telling you something. If something doesn't feel right, don't get yourself into a position that you need to use superior skill to get yourself out of it.

[oliverbourne]

Amazing. As someone who has been very seriously pondering beginning the PPL journey and then in the hunt for information and training, finding YouTube channels on fatal crash analysis, I was definitely having second thoughts. This is a great video to give some structure and balance to your own fear

[jakegriner]

I really like the preventable/risk mitigation vs your time has come. People can understand that, because the same is true for driving. Sometimes you got trapped in a pile up and there is nothing you could’ve done, but a lot of accidents are driving too fast, at night, in the rain, on the phone, etc. If you mitigate what factors you control, the safety goes way up.

[timhoke]

Good stuff, Charlie. Because I am out of the country four months at a stretch, I chair fly often, Then when I return to the States (and my plane) I fly with either a CFI or buddy the first couple of flights just to make sure that I am proficient. Then, and only then, do I fly solo.

[byronspencer]

Studying accident statistics and taking measures to not be within the overrepresented groups is the exactly how you avoid becoming a statistic within any risky activity from mountain climbing to flying to riding motorcycles. Great advice in this video. Great way to think about how staying safe requires conscious ongoing effort.

[sheldonjanzen]

Im a trucker..and armchair pilot..in trucking i learnt its very similar to flying. Everything has to be calculated in advance because you know it takes 20 seconds or more to stop. A lot can happen in that time and if your in the mountains or some bad place, well your time is just up. You have to be diligent in your safety and attentive at all times but no matter what there is still that margin of risk/random fate..mechanical failure, traffic accidents..etc..still just because you crash doesnt mean youll die either..i rolled a picker truck and im here truckin 17 years later..wishing i was flying..great channel man i love it. Raw truth and interesting topics all the time for rookies like me!

[asarangan]

Great topic, great video. It is so true that safety slips in small stages. We typically attribute the cause to the last link in the accident chain, in reality the accident started several steps prior to that. Every pilot needs to be taught how to recognize when a chain of events is occuring, and break the chain before he get to the last link.

[danielmcnulty]

This is great. Outstanding point of view. I ride a motorcycle, and I fly an airplane. Both of them are hobbies, neither is mandatory. Both come with higher levels of uncontrollable risk than say, walking down the street or playing chess. But I am willing to accept those risks because I am a responsible person and I will absolutely control everything that I can and accept what I cannot. It makes my life happy, fun, and free.

[dieselyeti]

One of the things I always tried to impress on students is to never exceed your own capabilities, or that of your airplane. This means having a safety mindset, which must be learned.

[tombuck]

“Safety starts at zero for every flight” is a really good reminder for lots of things in life. Love that.

[Jeffrey-Flys]

Great video Charlie. Exactly what needs to be said.

[arthurbrumagem]

One positive of being older - we usually don’t worry about fuel exhaustion as our bladders fill before our tanks empty . Even AOPA states that

[MrMinusTwo]

This was awesome! Super well researched and high production value. Perfect content. Thanks for posting!

[laxboyreal]

Absolutely amazing video! We all have seen these accident reports, and even though it’s sad, it keeps us pilots humble. Having a high ego when it comes to risk taking is never good

[KennethMillsTours]

Great quote Safety Slips in Small Stages