2008 Nall Report - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

2008 NALL REPORT
Accident Factors: Other Phases of Flight
Preflight, taxi, cruise, and go-around phases of
flight hold less risk than other phases. Preflight,
taxi and go-around are discussed here. With only
14 accidents occurring during cruise, the numbers
during that phase were too small for meaningful
analysis.
Preflight and Taxi
39 total/3 fatal
The 17 accidents attributable to inadequate
preflight included five attempted takeoffs over
maximum gross weight, three prop strikes, five
undetected discrepancies with fuel systems, flight
controls, or seats, and four starting accidents not
involving prop strikes.
Twenty-two of the 39 (56.4 percent) were taxi accidents,
including eight collisions with objects, structures,
or vehicles, and 14 losses of control in winds,
jet blast or prop wash, on slippery surfaces, etc. Of
37 pilots whose certificate status was reported, 13
(35.1 percent) held commercial (10) or ATP (3)
certificates. Nineteen (51.4 percent) were private
pilots, four were students, and one held no pilot
certificate.
Go-Around
40 total/9 fatal
This phase includes missed approach (IMC) and
go-around (VMC). These involve abandoning the
approach prior to touchdown. Typical go-around
accidents occur for one or more of the following
reasons:
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