Aviation Human Factors

Flight Reviews and Accidents

I just completed a small study in which I analyzed the dates of flight reviews and accidents for a sample of about 100 accidents from the NTSB database.

The results are shown in the graph at the bottom of this page.

I think it is very interesting that there is a big spike in the number of accidents just after pilots get a flight review, then it drops off to the normal distribution that we see in a lot of statistical data.

What causes the jump?

There are several potential explanations, but the simplest is that pilots are just flying more immediately following the flight review. Basically, more exposure (more flying hours) leads to more accidents. Another explanation is that pilots feel more confident following the review, and will go out into conditions that they would not have ventured into prior to the review.

You can help us understand which of those explanations is correct by doing two things:

First, answer a few questions about your flight time immediately before and following your last flight review.

Second, read a few typical aviation scenarios and tell us how risky they seem to you.

The results might lead to a change in the regulations regarding flight reviews. At the least, they should be used to make pilots more aware of risks during that critical period following a review.

Click on the link here, to take part in this study.

Come back in a couple of months, and I'll show you how it turned out. In the meantime, if you get a flight review, BE CAREFUL -- surviving the flight review does not make you into Charles Lindburgh.