Several Other Items Can Also Be Applied To Aviation

The NTSB has released its annual "Most Wanted" list, which identifies the top safety improvements that can be made across all modes to prevent accidents and save lives in the future. These issue areas are both significant in impact and ripe for action.

The Most Wanted List is the board's "roadmap" from lessons learned to lives saved. The board urges lawmakers to adopt lifesaving solutions, industry to implement safety technologies and programs, and every American to learn more and take personal responsibility where they can to control their own outcomes.

As it has been for the past several years, prevention of Loss of Control (LOC) accidents in general aviation is one of the board's top priorities. According to the board, nearly half of all general aviation accidents are caused by loss of control in flight. To prevent unintended departures from flight and better manage stalls, pilots need more training and a better awareness of the technologies that can help prevent these tragedies.

NTSB data from 2008–2014 confirm that loss of control continues to be the biggest killer in general aviation. Better training on how to eliminate distraction, avoid stalls, and manage weather issues will put pilots back in control and give them better command of their outcomes.

Other items on the list that the Board categorizes as having an impact on aviation include:

• Ensuring the safe shipment of hazardous materials
• Ending alcohol and other drug impairment in transportation
• Reduction of fatigue-related accidents
• Requiring medical fitness
• Elimination of distractions
• Strengthening occupant safety
• Increasing the use of data recording devices

"Tens of thousands of people die in transportation accidents and crashes every year—our neighbors, our coworkers, our schoolmates, our family members," the NTSB said in releasing the list, "but they don’t have to. Most of these deaths are completely preventable. With each accident we learn lessons about safety gaps and make recommendations that, if acted upon, could close these gaps."

FMI: Most Wanted List brochure