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Aviation Facts

  • Approximately 80 percent of all plane crashes occur shortly before or after takeoff or landing due to human error or mechanical failures.
  • According to an aviation accident survey of nearly 2,200 plane crashes from 1950 to 2004, the number one cause of aviation accidents is pilot error, which results in 45 percent of accidents. Undetermined causes: 33 percent. Mechanical failure: 13 percent.
  • In 2005, there were a total of 1,764 aviation accidents in the United States that resulted in 600 fatalities. Low-level maneuvering of an aircraft was the leading cause of fatal aviation accidents from 1998 to 2004.
  • In 2004, more than 70 percent of all plane crashes that ended in serious injury or fatality occurred during a personal flight. General aviation accidents occur more frequently than airline or business aviation accidents.
  • The most recent statistics on midair collisions has shown a steady decline. In 2004, there were 10 midair accidents resulting in 10 fatalities compared to 11 collisions in 2003 with 23 deaths.

Airline Crashes

Some of the most common causes of aviation accidents include:

  • pilot error,
  • negligence by a flight service employee or air traffic controller,
  • faulty equipment or mechanical failure,
  • weather,
  • and sabotage.
  • Violations of Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations and aviation law are also a frequent cause of aviation accidents.

Airline Safety

“I think the improvements in airline safety are going to come in small increments. We have a number of design issues, such as the rudder, turbine engines that are exploding, and other things that are very complicated to deal with. I think the industry just needs to keep attacking at all fronts. That’s our perspective.” -Clark Rupp, NTSB Director, interview with John Clark

There are certain statistics showing that around 80% of plane crashes are not fatal but end up with death due to passengers not knowing the proper course of action to take. While there is always a short safety presentation at the start of each flight, not all passengers know what to do still. Certain tips may be able to save lives and prevent unnecessary injuries if a plane crash should ever occur.

By paying attention to what the flight attendants say can save you or another passenger’s life in the event of a plane crash. In addition, there is always a flight manual outlining the safety guidelines of the aircraft that you should review.

During the flight attendant’s safety presentation the exits will be pointed out, along as shown in the manual. Knowing this will allow a passenger to quickly exist the airplane in the event of a plane crash. Hesitation can lead to injuries and fatalities. Knowing how to operate the emergency doors is also very important. If you are seated next to an emergency exit you will be asked if you are comfortable with having the responsibility.

There are a few other airplane safety measures that can help plane crash survivability. The airplane seats that are most desirable in instances of a plane crash, in most circumstances, are the exit, aisle, and wing exit seats. Appropriate dress measures can be taken as well. Avoiding synthetic materials can prevent the clothing from melting under high heats and burning your skin.

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a plane crash, please contact an Aviation Attorney.

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