An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States
Spin training has not been required for students working towards their private or commercial certificates for the past 70 years. Switching to a stall-prevention mindset within training aimed to make spin recovery unnecessary; however, stall-type accidents, consisting of stalls, spins, and spirals, s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Aerospace |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/4/178 |
| _version_ | 1797437463667408896 |
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| author | Nicoletta Fala |
| author_facet | Nicoletta Fala |
| author_sort | Nicoletta Fala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spin training has not been required for students working towards their private or commercial certificates for the past 70 years. Switching to a stall-prevention mindset within training aimed to make spin recovery unnecessary; however, stall-type accidents, consisting of stalls, spins, and spirals, still occur and are highly fatal. Although past studies have analyzed accidents, interviewed pilots at different levels, and made recommendations for changes in the industry, stall-type accidents are no less fatal now, at a fatality ratio of approximately 40–50% yearly. The research discussed in this paper aims to summarize and present accident stall-type statistics in aggregate over the past five decades and motivate future pilot- and training-centered research to address the high presence of stall-type accidents in aviation. Specifically, this article uses NTSB accident reports to answer the research question of whether there have been changes in the prevalence of spins among both fatal and non-datal fixed-wing accidents in the United States over the past sixty years. The methodology breaks down the accident analysis in three groups, based on the time period in which they occurred, due to differences in the reporting methods used. This paper finds that the prevalence and fatality ratio of stall-type accidents has remained high over the past six decades and that stall-type accidents are more than twice as fatal as an average accident. To remedy the high accident count, we recommend experimental ground and simulator-based training to improve pilot knowledge, skill, and performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:19:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e49d0f62a988427485a34a31723290b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:19:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj.art-e49d0f62a988427485a34a31723290b82023-12-01T00:21:38ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102022-03-019417810.3390/aerospace9040178An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United StatesNicoletta Fala0Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USASpin training has not been required for students working towards their private or commercial certificates for the past 70 years. Switching to a stall-prevention mindset within training aimed to make spin recovery unnecessary; however, stall-type accidents, consisting of stalls, spins, and spirals, still occur and are highly fatal. Although past studies have analyzed accidents, interviewed pilots at different levels, and made recommendations for changes in the industry, stall-type accidents are no less fatal now, at a fatality ratio of approximately 40–50% yearly. The research discussed in this paper aims to summarize and present accident stall-type statistics in aggregate over the past five decades and motivate future pilot- and training-centered research to address the high presence of stall-type accidents in aviation. Specifically, this article uses NTSB accident reports to answer the research question of whether there have been changes in the prevalence of spins among both fatal and non-datal fixed-wing accidents in the United States over the past sixty years. The methodology breaks down the accident analysis in three groups, based on the time period in which they occurred, due to differences in the reporting methods used. This paper finds that the prevalence and fatality ratio of stall-type accidents has remained high over the past six decades and that stall-type accidents are more than twice as fatal as an average accident. To remedy the high accident count, we recommend experimental ground and simulator-based training to improve pilot knowledge, skill, and performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/4/178aviation safetyspin accidentsstall-type accidentsspin traininggeneral aviationflight training |
| spellingShingle | Nicoletta Fala An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States Aerospace aviation safety spin accidents stall-type accidents spin training general aviation flight training |
| title | An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States |
| title_full | An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States |
| title_fullStr | An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States |
| title_short | An Analysis of Fixed-Wing Stall-Type Accidents in the United States |
| title_sort | analysis of fixed wing stall type accidents in the united states |
| topic | aviation safety spin accidents stall-type accidents spin training general aviation flight training |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/4/178 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicolettafala ananalysisoffixedwingstalltypeaccidentsintheunitedstates AT nicolettafala analysisoffixedwingstalltypeaccidentsintheunitedstates |