Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM General Aviation Accidents 1.51% of pilots were between 40-49 2. 71% were private pilots 3. 52% had below 500 hours 4. 46% had less than 100 hrs in type 5. 77% were not IFR rated 6. 57% less than 20 hrs IFR instruction 7. 55% got weather briefing 8. 80% not on flight plan 9. 83% were single engine 10. 62% owned airplane 11. 75% flying for personal reasons 12. 62% in cruise phase of flight 13. 61% crashed in fog 14. 75% were killed 15. 72% of aircraft were IFR equipped 16. 97% of accidents were pilot error 17. 42% of accidents were caused by misuse of weather data 18. 40% of pilots had no weather briefing 19. 30% of accidents caused by pilots mishandling aircraft 20. 14% of accidents related to poor judgment, planning or decision-making 21. 35% of VFR into IFR occur at night 22. 11% of people in VFR to IFR conditions survive accident 23. 50% of fatal accidents were by pilots who had over 500 hours. 24. 80% are caused by pilot error: 25. 20% of the 80% are caused by low level flight (16%) 26. 20% of the 80% are caused by flight into weather (16%) 27. 20% of the 80% happen in airport vicinity (5 miles 3000')(16%) Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM