Aviation Safety

About one-third of all general aviation accidents during fiscal year 1992 occurred in the western continental United States, which is mountainous. GAO found that the general aviation accident rate was (1) nearly 40 percent higher for mountainous western states than for all other continental states in fiscal year 1992 and (2) 155 percent higher for a group of mountain airports GAO reviewed than for nonmountain airports. During the pilot certification process and safety seminars, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns pilots about the hazards of flying in mountain areas. Many fatal accidents occur each year, however, because pilots are often unfamiliar with the risks of or lack experience in mountain flying. Some communities have begun restricting access to their airports at night, which has led to disputes with FAA. GAO recommends that FAA (1) issue guidance that identifies mountain airports, describes the unique challenges the airports present to pilots, and recommend approach and takeoff routes at those airports under visual flight rules; (2) provide incentives for pilots to seek mountain flying training; and (3) modify the written test to include specific questions on the risks of mountain flying.

GAO found that: (1) mountain flying poses greater accident risks to general aviation pilots; (2) engine output and propeller efficiency decrease at higher elevations; (3) FAA alerts pilots to mountain flying risks during the pilot certification process and at subsequent safety seminars; (4) pilots involved in fatal general aviation accidents were not familiar with the hazards of mountain flying; (5) FAA should issue guidance identifying airports in mountainous areas that present unique challenges and recommend routes for approach and takeoff at those airports under visual flight rules; (6) FAA should encourage pilot training by approving mountain flying courses and allowing pilots who complete such training to receive a "mountain endorsement" that can be used in lieu of the biennial flight review requirement; (7) FAA should develop certification test questions that highlight mountain flying risks, since the current test does not include any; (8) FAA has legal authority to resolve the dispute concerning the restriction of night operations at Aspen Airport; and (9) FAA has several options to consider in resolving the dispute at Aspen Airport.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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