Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Fatalities and Survival 90% of people involved in ditching accidents survive. Only 1 out of every 6 airplane accidents results in anyone being hurt or killed. Any accident that occurs in normal landing sequence and configuration has 80% survival rate. In 1991 41,150 died in auto accidents, only 49 died in major commercial airline accidents. 46% of flying fatalities are weather related. 1/3 of serious accidents are cause by poor preflight inspections 50% of fatal accidents caused by a series of judgmental errors. Flying less than 10 hours in 30 days or less than 25 hours in 90 days greatly increases accident vulnerability. From '75 to '86 VFR into IFR had 4% of accidents and 19% of fatalities. Fatalities occurred in 72% of the VFR into IFR accidents from '75 to '86 BFR (Biennial Flight Review) does not seem to detect flying deficiencies. Add 10-15 % to takeoff/landing performance data to account for present aircraft performance since new. A 2% uphill gradient can add 50% to the takeoff distance under adverse conditions. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM