General Aviation and Controlled Flight Into Terrain Accidents
Mary D. Stearns, Ph.D.
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Melissa Bud
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
Peter Mengert, Ph.D.
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Abstract
This paper describes characteristics of general aviation (GA) accidents and identifies
factors related to the occurrence of a subset of GA accidents attributed to controlled
flight into terrain (CFIT). Using NTSB data from the 31,790 aviation accidents that
occurred between 1983 and 1994, inclusive, this research identified GA accidents that
could be attributed to CFIT. Statistical analyses identified characteristics of GA CFIT
accidents that may be useful for the design or modification of terrain-alerting equipment.
Approximately one third of the GA accidents in instrument conditions are related to CFIT.
Weather condition and pilot age were also strong predictors of the occurrence of CFIT
accidents.
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