Abstract: | The author reviews 52 personally investigated fatal light aircraft accidents involving 8 professional pilots and 44 private pilots. In 22 of the 52 accidents the presence of any pre-crash defect or malfunction of airframe, engine, or flying controls was definitely excluded. In the opinion of the author there was a "pilot-induced" factor in 35 (69.3%) of the 52 fatal accidents. The author discusses the pilot-induced factors associated with some of these accidents and refers to some of the mechanical defects encountered. |