In Alaska, an average of five fatal occupational aircraft crashes and eight fatalities occurred annually between 2000 and 2010, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most of the crashes were due to weather, pilots' loss of aircraft control, and pilots' failure to maintain clearance from terrain, water or objects. "Although aircraft crashes in Alaska have declined since the 1990s," said Mary O'Connor with the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, "continued combined efforts by pilots, passengers, air carriers, government agencies, other aviation safety organizations and the aviation industry are needed for further improvements in aviation safety."
According to the study, 39 percent of crashes were associated with intended departures or destinations at sites not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (such as gravel bars, mountain tops and lakes), which may have little information on weather and landing conditions there or en route, and may have minimal, if any safety equipment on site.
Here's an excerpt from the study (read the full report):
Aircraft crashes are the second leading cause of occupational deaths in Alaska; during the 1990s, a total of 108 fatal aviation crashes resulted in 155 occupational fatalities (1). To update data and identify risk factors for occupational death from aircraft crashes, CDC reviewed data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System. During 2000--2010, a total of 90 occupational fatalities occurred as a result of 54 crashes, an average of five fatal aircraft crashes and eight fatalities per year. Among those crashes, 21 (39%) were associated with intended takeoffs or landings at landing sites not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Fifteen crashes (28%) were associated with weather, including poor visibility, wind, and turbulence. In addition, 11 crashes (20%) resulted from pilots' loss of aircraft control; nine (17%) from pilots' failure to maintain clearance from terrain, water, or objects; and seven (13%) from engine, structure, or component failure. To reduce occupational fatalities resulting from aircraft crashes in the state, safety interventions should focus on providing weather and other flight information to increase pilots' situational awareness, maintaining pilot proficiency and decision-making abilities, and expanding the infrastructure used by pilots to fly by instruments.
CDC reviewed reports from its Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System (AOISS) and information from the NTSB accident database* to identify risk factors for occupational deaths. A case was defined as a fatal occupational traumatic injury in an aircraft crash during 2000--2010 that was reported in Alaska and investigated by NTSB. AOISS contains information on all fatal occupational traumatic injuries that occur in Alaska. Only cases that meet the criteria for an occupational fatality using established guidelines for injury at work are included (2). NTSB is mandated by Congress to investigate civilian transportation incidents and crashes, determine probable causes, and issue safety recommendations. NTSB reports include information on aircraft, crash circumstances, pilots and crew, and a narrative outlining contributing factors. Crashes are "accidents," defined by the NTSB as "an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage."† Military crashes and crashes of aircraft that are not registered in a civil aviation registry (such as ultralights) routinely are not investigated.
Rates for the number of departures were calculated using data from the FAA Terminal Area Forecast summary report for the Alaska region for 2000--2010.§ FAA air traffic control towers and radar approach control facilities record aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings). Aircraft operations at contracted air traffic control towers and nontowered airports are estimated. For this report, the number of departures was calculated as operations (takeoffs + landings) divided by two. FAA reports aviation operations by fiscal year (i.e., October through September). Fatalities are reported by calendar year. Data on fatalities from each calendar year were paired with operations data from corresponding fiscal years.
During 2000--2010, 54 aircraft crashes involving fatalities occurred in Alaska, resulting in 90 occupational deaths (Figure). The mean age of victims was 44 years (range: 20--73 years), and 79 (88%) of the victims were male. Of those persons who died, 53 (59%) were occupational pilots. Mean total flight hours (when available) for pilots in command (n = 43) was 7,798 hours. The most common occupations of the nonpilot victims were management (11); installation, service, and repair (seven); personal care/service occupations, including tour guides (six); and protective service occupations (four). Fixed wing aircraft were involved in 48 (89%) of the crashes and six (11%) involved helicopters. Most (65%) crashes occurred during May--September; 48% of crashes occurred during the hours of 12:01 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The numbers and rates of occupational fatal crashes and deaths that occurred during 2005--2009 were lower than those during 2000--2004 (Table 1). The crash rate declined 32%, from 6.5 to 4.4 crashes per 1 million departures. The fatality rate decreased 36%, from 10.8 to 6.9 per 1 million departures. However, in 2010, numbers were higher than the previous yearly average, with six occupational fatal crashes resulting in 12 deaths. A review of the departure locations and destinations revealed that 21 (39%) fatal crashes were associated with intended takeoffs or landings at non-FAA--registered landing sites, such as gravel bars, snow fields, lakes, and temporary airstrips. The other 33 (61%) crashes were associated with intended takeoffs and landings at FAA-registered airports. The leading causes of fatal crashes, by numbers of crashes, were 15 (28%) encounters with adverse weather; 11 (20%) pilots' loss of control; nine (17%) pilots' failure to maintain clearance from terrain, water or objects; and seven (13%) from engine, structure, or component failure (Table 2). Causes are undetermined for three crashes with missing aircraft, and not yet determined for all 2010 crashes.