[dinoparty]

I know virtually nothing about piloting planes or national statistics on small plane crashes. However, I do know that roughly half the people who I personally have known in my life who regularly pilot private small planes have died in plane crashes. I wouldn't regularly fly small planes as an amatuer in a million years.

[G Larry]

in a million years, it would be OK to take those kind of risks....
you'd have gone far past your natural life expectancy.....
{;^)

[colorado tanker]

He was no "amateur." He was the pro's pro.

RIP.

[Dashing Dasher]

I know virtually nothing about piloting planes or national statistics on small plane crashes. However, I do know that roughly half the people who I personally have known in my life who regularly pilot private small planes have died in plane crashes. I wouldn't regularly fly small planes as an amatuer in a million years.

You seem to be unlucky with your choice of flying friends.

While most of my friends are pilots and I do lose a few each year to crashes - not nearly the statistic that you are quoting.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"I know virtually nothing about piloting planes or national statistics on small plane crashes. However, I do know that roughly half the people who I personally have known in my life who regularly pilot private small planes have died in plane crashes. I wouldn't regularly fly small planes as an amatuer in a million years."


I am a private pilot. In five years in my flying club (hundreds of members, dozens of aircraft) we have had one fatal crash. And that was a military pilot likely screwing around doing something he was not supposed to be doing with a general aviation aircraft.

Private flying is about as safe as driving motorcycles.

It can be dangerous if you do not put safety first.

You must stay current in your training and always learning.

It's as safe as you make it.

I often read NTSB reports and am always astonished at how many accidents were truly preventable. Despite all the training, General Avaition pilots still do not find new ways to kill themselves. The same mistakes get made over and over again. The accident rate is going.

I have given many people rides, it is a joy to share this with people, a delight to give the controls for a few minutes to a passenger and let them "fly" the aircraft. Life is risk, no activity is 100% safe. There is no avoiding it. But you can minimize it.

[narby]

I do know that roughly half the people who I personally have known in my life who regularly pilot private small planes have died in plane crashes. I wouldn't regularly fly small planes as an amatuer in a million years.

Crossfield was hardly an "amatuer".

[RJS1950]

This guy was no amateur, professional/military test pilot his entire life. Accidents happen and if you do one thing over a long period of time the statistics of failure can catch up with you no matter how good you are.

[GOPJ]

However, I do know that roughly half the people who I personally have known in my life who regularly pilot private small planes have died in plane crashes. I wouldn't regularly fly small planes as an amateur in a million years.

It's a problem with doctors - and others with more money than patience. They buy planes beyond their real skill level -- and crash them.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Over 11,000 hours in taildraggers(7000 citabria, 3100 converted C172M taildragger, 1000 misc 172's) All over the ocean. I hate flying over land!

[RunningWolf]

I am not partial to GA aircraft because of their inherent limitations.

Usually it is a single engine (piston) with no TAI (thermal anti ice) and no cabin pressurization, oxygen if there is limited.

So if you get into bad weather you can rarely fly above it or around it and if there are mountains etc you might not be able to fly below it either.

W.