Last year US general aviation saw the lowest accident total since records began in 1938 and the smallest number of fatal accidents since 1945, according to preliminary data from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
The total number of GA accidents in 2004 dropped by 8.4% compared with the previous year, while the number of fatal accidents reduced 11.4%. Accidents involving instructional flying showed a reduction, with total accidents down 11.7% and fatal instructional accidents halved. The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) says: "There are few fatal instructional accidents in any year. Last year there were 17."
Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, says: "These preliminary numbers show that safety improvement continues in general aviation. Since 1970 alone, the accident rate has decreased almost threefold."
Source: Flight International
