Aircraft Accidents in Commercial Aviation Part 1 Statistics and Facts of the Accidents

Abstract

There is relatively less rate of accidents in commercial aviation than the other modes of traveling while yearly number of accidents and fatalities also decrease successively. This article presents data and facts of accidents in global commercial aviation in Thailand and details of some selected severe accidents to suggest guideline for the prevention of future occurrence. Initial conclusion is that runway accidents occur much frequently that the other two: Loss of Control in Flight and Controlled flight into Terrain. Fatality varies with the severity of the accidents. Of all accidents, the major causes are from the errors of 3 parties, flight crews, air traffic controllers, and aircraft maintenance personnel. However, with further subsequent investigation it is found that human errors are only the last straw for the whole casualties. There are several successive percussions of defectives, for an example: pressure from travellers, competition between operators, policy for cost reduction policy. These issues can force employees to be over worked, resulting in fatigue and not ready for operations and brings about accidents. Models of these multi-hierarchical causes are brought forth to the part 2 Human factors and the root causes.