RISK-FACTORS FOR PILOT FATALITIES IN GENERAL-AVIATION AIRPLANE CRASH LANDINGS

Context.-Most pilots survive airplane crash landings in small airplane s. Factors associated with pilot death have not been well studied. Obj ective.-To identify factors associated with fatalities in general avia tion airplane crash landings. Design.-Case-control study. Setting.-The United States. Subjects.-All pilots in general aviation crash landing s of airplanes with 10 seats or fewer, from 1983 through 1992. Main Ou tcome Measure.-Pilot death. Results.-Pilots died in 437 (5.2%) of 8411 crash landings. A fire or explosion on the ground was strongly associ ated with pilot death (relative risk [RR], 20.4; 95% confidence interv al [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 w ho failed to use both lap belt and shoulder harness were more likely t o die (adjusted RR, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.8-25.5), as were those who used onl y the lap belt (adjusted RR, 1.7, 95% CI, 1.3-2.2), compared with pilo ts who used both restraints. Conclusion.-Pilots may be able to reduce their risk of death in a crash landing by using lap and shoulder restr aints.