The rate of fatal accidents in general aviation is 3½ times higher than for air transport activity according to an ATSB report.
Released today, the statistical report examines aviation accidents and incidents between 2001 and 2010 across all aviation types in Australia.
During the past ten years, there were 236 people killed in 147 fatal accidents in general aviation. General aviation includes all VH-registered flying activities except scheduled and charter passenger and freight operations.
Within general aviation, private flying accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 135 people between 2001 and 2010.
ATSB Chief Commissioner, Mr Martin Dolan, said anyone involved in general aviation, and private pilots in particular, should take heed of these findings.
"This report is a startling reminder of the dangers facing private pilots and general aviation as a whole," Mr Dolan says. "What's more, many of these tragedies could have been avoided with simple risk management procedures."
Mr Dolan says the ATSB is focussing more effort on targeting general aviation with safety messages due to the high number of accidents in this area.
"We've been preparing a series of publications for general aviation and private pilots," Mr Dolan says. "We have drawn graphic attention to the consequences of doing risky things such as low flying, which has led to a series of fatalities over time.
"We are also assisting private pilots to better assess the set of risks they are facing and how to deal with this risks."
A copy of the statistical report, Aviation Occurrence Statistics, 2001 to 2010 is available on the ATSB website.
Fact sheet
Top five accidents and serious incidents (General Aviation)
- Terrain collisions (e.g. ground strikes; wirestrikes)
- Aircraft control (e.g. hard landing; loss of control; unstable approach; wheels-up landing)
- Powerplant and propulsion (e.g. partial and total power loss; engine failure; propeller failure; transmission and gearbox issues)
- Aircraft separation (e.g. breakdown of separation; mid-air collision)
- Runway events (e.g. depart, approach, land wrong runway; runway excursion and incursion; runway undershoot)
Top five accidents and serious incidents (Air transport-fare-paying passenger aircraft)
- Aircraft separation (e.g. breakdown of separation; mid-air collision)
- Aircraft control (e.g. hard landing; loss of control; unstable approach; wheels-up landing)
- Powerplant and propulsion systems (e.g. partial and total power loss; engine failure; propeller issues; transmission and gearbox issues)
- Miscellaneous events (e.g. crew incapacitation; depressurisation; missing aircraft; security issues; stall warnings; laser-related issues; unauthorised low flying; warning device issues)
- Terrain collisions (e.g. ground strikes; wirestrikes)
You can also find a range of safety education material under the Publications tab on the ATSB's website at www.atsb.gov.au