But Overall Accident Rate Increased, Which Is "Worrisome"

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation on Friday released the 19th annual Joseph T. Nall Report, a comprehensive analysis of what kinds of accidents pilots have, and why. The report looks at general aviation accidents that occurred throughout 2007 -- the most recent year details on nearly all accidents are available from the NTSB --  involving light, fixed-wing aircraft weighing less than 12,500 lbs.

Following years of overall decline, ASF found the number of accidents increased in 2007. That's a "worrisome" indicator, the Foundation writes... but there's better news to be found in that the number of fatalities declined, as did the rate of fatal accidents.

Of particular note, ASF says the fatal accident rate fell more than would be anticipated by a declining number of flight hours... indicating a real reduction.

"While any fatality is one too many, the declines indicate that industry-wide efforts to improve safety are bearing fruit," said Bruce Landsberg, president of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. "But the increase in the overall number of accidents indicates that there is still work to be done to improve safety. The Nall Report helps us determine where to focus our efforts."

For instance, several years ago the report showed fuel exhaustion accidents were continuing to occur at an alarmingly high rate. Thanks in part to technically advanced aircraft and their improved fuel monitoring capabilities -- as well as increased pilot awareness thanks to campaigns by the ASF, the Federal Aviation Administration, and others in the industry -- the current Nall Report shows a significant drop in the number of fuel exhaustion accidents.

Weather-related accidents continue to be among the most lethal types, with 82% of such accidents causing death. The Air Safety Foundation also noted an significant uptick in the number of accidents involving experimental aircraft during 2007.

"The Nall Report is an important aviation safety tool," concluded Landsberg. "It helps us look back and identify trends, but more importantly, it helps us determine where we can improve in the future."

FMI: Read The Full Report (.pdf)