What occurrences could possibly lead a pilot into a plane crash (accident)?

Question

I don't get it. Please explain on technical terms.

Thank you!

Answer 1

I think most here are correct, but I'll elaborate some. Just like scenerio's in a car; and just like auto crashes; most all are avoidable, but I won't delve into that or this will turn into a book.

I will list some of the top that I've learned through training and FAA Sponsored Safety Seminars. (excluding student pilot errors).

One of the top is flying into IMC (instrument meteoroligical conditions) like clouds, fog, etc. without an Instrument Rating.
It is important to note that alot of Instrument Rated Pilots get into trouble as well, as a Fatal Crash here in Kansas did a couple of weeks back. She was instrument rated.
It is very scary when it catches you by surprise. Think how it would feel if you're barreling down the highway and someone throws a wool blanket on all the windows.

The pilot is supposed to trust their instruments, but you're body is telling you confusing and contradictory messages. Swinging your head around to try to see something sloshes the fluid of equilibrium in your ears into thinking that you are in a turn, or climbing, descending, etc. even though the wings are level. This is called 'Spatial Disorientation' and is what killed Kennedy Jr. when He flew into fog. You keep tightening a turn until you are in a death spiral. Your airspeed skyrockets well over the limits of the aircraft ,and eventually, structural failure (wings pop off with a bang, for example).

Alot of accidents also occur at Airports, because that is where aircraft converge into the same area with the same goal. Very recently, a small plane 'piggy backed' onto another plane on a landing. Visibility is nill beneath you and above and behind you; so it's easy to not spot each other.
You are NOT REQUIRED to have a radio to land at a class 'E' or nontowered airport. But each pilot has the responsibility to look out for other traffic, even pilots on an IFR (instrument flight) plan at a towered airport. This is why a 'straight in' approach is generally frowned upon at a Non towered airport. A pilot should always fly at least a partial pattern so as to look for other traffic and obstructions on the runway, etc.

A plane flying opposite of the published pattern at an airport is another potentially lethal airport concern for reasons I don't have to explain.

Controlled flights into terrain (even on a clear day) is another biggie; especially for Pilots on an Instrument plan. The workload is huge for an IFR pilot on approach to land/take off, and as they are concentrating on the instruments navigation, timing, etc. they fail of seeing the ground kreeping up on them; or a bluff looming closer and closer. An improper set Altimeter may be one of the reasons for this, or improperly flying the approach; not setting your timer correctly, etc.

Believe it or not; fuel depletion is another one; and is the most avoidable. A newspaper praises a pilots ability to have a controlled glide into a field, etc. when the fuel ran out saving the passengers lives, but that guy will be shunned by his peers in Aviation, as a total Moron for letting it happen in the first place. It ranks among the most stupid things a pilot can do. If He/She was a superior pilot, then they would have used their supperior judgement and fueled at that last stop anticipating the strong headwinds that would be encountered and deplete the fuel before the next Airport.

Another one, is landing with the gear up. I know this is stupid, but it can happen to anyone. They say if you own a retractable, it's not a matter of 'if', but rather 'when' you will forget to put the gear down. It's hard to buy a used retractible aircraft that hasn't had a gear up experience and has been repaired.

Overloaded Aircraft is what killed 4 Firemen on a leisure trip recently. The pressure of the Pilot to get to the destination whom willingly took off over 200 lbs. overweight killed them all upon the takeoff attempt. He should have lost some luggage and drained some fuel.

One that can sneak up ang 'grab' you is 'DENSITY ALTITUDE.' This is one that is hard to explain. You fly into a high altitude airport; say near Denver. Even though you are on the ground, the plane thinks you are say; 5,500 feet into the air. All it cares about is altitute above sea level. You spend the night in Denver and leave the next day; a hot day, high humidity, etc. and the Density altitute is 6,200 msl. Add that to 5,500 and you have what your plane thinks is 11,700 feet above Sea Level! Your little Cessna 152 may only be rated at a 10,000 ft. ceiling. This means at 10,000 ft msl (mean sea level) you can't climb anymore; or at least not appreciable.

You fill your tanks, cram some stuff you bought, and maybe you are close to full gross weight. You go barreling down the runway and go into 'ground affect.' (the little compressed cushion of air pushing the wings off of the ground) giving you a false impression that you are going to fly. You pull back on the yoke some more and you lose that affect and 'bam!'

Or you go off the runway, or you climb and stall, etc.

There are many others, but what makes General Aviation safe is the Pilot in Command.

have you noticed that I left out mechanical failure of the aircraft?

That is because is makes up of perhaps 2 percent of aircraft crashes. The rest is generally 'judgement.'

Hopes this helps,

Gary

Answer 2

Most plane crashes are due to poor pilot judgment. Most accidents are a chain of events leading up to the accident. Example the pilot forgot to switch the tanks and the engine was deprived of fuel. In the ensuing panic, the pilot did not follow the procedure to switching the tanks and restart the engine. The plane crashed with 1/2 filled with fuel.

Answer 3

properly, many human beings might think of that that's a stupid question yet i think of that's totally a good one. Unfortuantely that's totally ordinary to deliberatly crash an plane. as quickly as the autopilot is disconnected you have entire administration of the plane. regardless of the undeniable fact that the determine must be a million in one billion pilot's who might desire to deliberatly crash an plane. I somewhat have a e book that asserts in case you board a flight daily, 12 months a 12 months, you will possibly nevertheless might desire to fly for 5,708 years before your opportunities of being in an coincidence got here to 50:50. So that's totally tremendously no longer likely. desire this enables

Answer 4

Water in the fuel. Wind shear! Turbulence! Inexperience! Stalling! Landing gear problems, over banking! There are many!!!!!

Answer 5

In the case of a fighter pilot, target fixation.

Answer 6

you dont understand man there are so many things that can go wrong, Icing, crosswind, turbulence, engine failure, premature flap or landing gear extention, engine overheat, just to name a few.

Answer 7

Loss of lift.

No lift,
No fly,
Plane will fall,
From the sky!