Risk factors for pilot fatalities in general aviation airplane crash landings.

CONTEXT

Most pilots survive airplane crash landings in small airplanes. Factors associated with pilot death have not been well studied.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with fatalities in general aviation airplane crash landings.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

The United States.

SUBJECTS

All pilots in general aviation crash landings of airplanes with 10 seats or fewer, from 1983 through 1992.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Pilot death.

RESULTS

Pilots died in 437 (5.2%) of 8411 crash landings. A fire or explosion on the ground was strongly associated with pilot death (relative risk [RR], 20.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.5-26.9), adjusted for pilot age, pilot flight hours, type of landing gear, and the filing of an instrument flight plan. Pilots who failed to use both lap belt and shoulder harness were more likely to die (adjusted RR, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.8-25.5), as were those who used only the lap belt (adjusted RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.2), compared with pilots who used both restraints.

CONCLUSION

Pilots may be able to reduce their risk of death in a crash landing by using lap and shoulder restraints.