Characteristics of Pilots Involved in U.S. Air Carrier Accidents Between 1991 and 2010

Abstract

This study used a case control methodology to analyze and describe the pilot characteristics of major U.S. air carrier accidents between 1991 and 2010. This study applied descriptive statistics and Chi-square for statistical analysis. The major findings of this study indicate that of the 50 accidents analyzed between 1991 and 2010, 96% of the first officers involved in a major U.S. air carrier accident possessed at least 2,000 hours of total flight time. Regarding first officer flight certificates (commercial pilot and ATP), the researchers separated the 1991 - 2010 time period into two time period groups (1991-2000 and 2001-2010).Of the two first officers (4%) with less than 1,500 hours of total flight time, neither was involved in an accident that cited pilot performance as a causal or contributing factor. This finding did not support the notion that a 1,500 hour total flight time requirement will contribute to the safety of air carrier operations conducted under 14 CFR 121. While an ATP certification requirement for first officers will not eliminate the possibility of any future accidents involving commercially certificated first officers, it was not possible to predict whether such a change will contribute to the enhancement of safety for 14 CFR 121 air carrier operations. It is possible there will simply be a redistribution of the number of accidents involving ATP certificated first officers. Results of this study also indicate that crew familiarity (captains and first officers) may have a negative effect on accident rates. The evaluation of captain and first officer cockpit interaction indicated that accident rates were higher in instances of lower crew familiarity in each of the three areas measured; first day of crew pairing, first leg of the day, and during the first pairing together.