PILOTS INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE CRASHES - ACCIDENT PRONENESS REVISITED

Analysis of crashes of air taxi and commuter flights explored the cont roversial issue of ''accident proneness.'' There were 20 pilots who ha d 2 or more crashes during 1983-88, These pilots (repeaters) and their 42 crashes were compared with 534 pilots who were each involved in a single air taxi or commuter crash during the same period (nonrepeaters ). Unexpectedly, repeaters were more experienced pilots with or mean t otal flight time of 7016 h vs. 5321 for nonrepeaters. Repeaters did no t differ from nonrepeaters in the overall proportion of crashes in whi ch pilot performance appeared to be a major factor. Repeaters differed significantly from nonrepeaters as to flight hours during the past 90 d (mean 215 vs. 183 h) and the proportion of their crashes that occur red in Alaska (48% vs. 24%), Alaska repeaters differed from non-Alaska repeaters with regard to the proportion of crashes on takeoff (40% vs 14%) and airport conditions as a factor (50% vs, 18%). The high propo rtion of repeaters in involved in crashes in Alaska, where environment al conditions make flying more hazardous, and the substantially greate r recent flight time suggest that the intensity and amount of occupati onal exposure are major determinants of pilot involvement in more than one crash.