AVIATION ACCIDENTS: THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Private aviation is a growing industry in Arizona, and many people are interested in getting their pilot's license or hiring a private plane to take a look at the beautiful Arizona landscape from the sky. With more and more private plane crashes making the news, however, people are beginning to wonder if private air travel is safe.

Overall, private air travel has become increasingly safer in the last few decades, but it still lags far behind the commercial aviation industry when it comes to safety. According to statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, the overall fatality rate for aviation accidents had dropped 75 percent since the 1970s. However, in 2013, there were still 387 people killed in the 1,297 accidents that year. In comparison, there were only two fatalities that same year for commercial aviation.

Those concerned about the number of deaths are trying to determine what's causing private aviation accidents. Some point to a lack of consistency on how many hours those flying private planes have logged, while others note that private planes are not equipped with the same safety features as commercial aircraft.

Whether the cause is a distracted or novice pilot, malfunctioning equipment or lack of training, aviation accidents are normally very serious, causing significant injuries and often resulting in fatalities. It's normal for victims and their families to have questions about what happened after an accident and who can be held responsible. Understanding the legal options available can help victims of private aviation accidents begin to move forward.

Source: Mother Nature Network, "Why private planes are nearly as deadly as cars" Stephanie Pappas, Feb. 17, 2015