Human Factors in General Aviation Loss of Control: Survey of Pilot Experiences

Abstract

Inflight loss of control (LOC-I) is a major cause of general aviation (GA) accidents. Previous studies have identified LOC-I causes from sources such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database. NTSB GA accident reports include limited detail on human factors. Getting pilots’ perspectives from other sources, such as surveys, may reveal insights into pilot actions and conditions. This study investigates the role of human factors in LOC-I by analyzing demographics in NTSB accidents and conducting a survey of pilots’ LOC-I experiences based on the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System framework. Note that 80% of the LOC-I events shared by the pilots involved pilot error, most of which were skill-based and decision errors. About one-quarter of pilots mentioned that their instructor had not prepared them well or taught them methods to recover from LOC-I. Several pilots mentioned that, because of their lack of LOC-I recovery training, they could not recover from LOC-I. The study helped in identifying specific pilot errors and issues in training that were not mentioned explicitly in the NTSB reports. Findings from the study may help improve training methods and operating procedures for GA pilots to prevent loss of control in the future.