Recurring Event Sequences in Instructional Fixed-Wing General Aviation Accidents A Sequence Analysis of National Transportation Safety Board Accident Reports, 2020-2025

Abstract

Accident classifications identify what happened during a flight, but they may reveal less about how an accident developed. This study examined 728 source-verified instructional fixed-wing general aviation accidents in the United States from 2020 through 2025. Each accident was classified by training context and accident category, then coded as an ordered sequence of events based on the available accident record. Landing and ground-control accidents were the most common, followed by power-loss or mechanical events and loss of control during takeoff or initial climb. Frequently observed sequences involved directional-control loss during landing, bounced or hard landings, landing-gear failures, and loss of control during attempted go-arounds. Accident distributions also differed between dual and solo instructional contexts. Some reports did not contain enough detail to support a specific sequence, so these cases were retained in a residual category rather than assigned a more precise classification. The findings show that examining the order in which events unfold can reveal recurring operational patterns that broad accident categories may conceal. These patterns may help guide further research and the review of flight-training practices, particularly in landing control, go-around decisions, and responses to mechanical or power-loss events.