Safety
Between 1995 and 2004 there were 2,630 accidents involving GA aircraft, of which 139 were fatal, resulting in the loss of 317 lives. The majority of accidents involved small fixed-wing aircraft engaged in private flights, and analysis attributes the most common causes of these to: flight handling skills; poor judgement or airmanship; lack of training or experience; and omission of, or inappropriate, action.
| Type | Total Accidents | Fatal Accidents | Total Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplane | 1,622 | 107 | 196 |
| Helicopter | 246 | 31 | 71 |
| Balloon | 49 | 1 | 1 |
| Airship | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Glider | 430 | n/a | 38 |
| Gyroplane | 31 | n/a | 8 |
| Microlight | 251 | n/a | 23 |
| Totals | 2,630 | 139 | 317 |
There were 27 fatal accidents involving GA aircraft in 2007, resulting in the loss of 48 lives. These compare with 16 accidents claiming a total of 19 lives the previous year, and although the 2007 statistics are higher than average, they are not exceptional.
Read more about this topic: General Aviation In The United Kingdom
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