Pilot error and mechanical malfunction are the two main causes of aviation accidents.
A pilot error consists of mistakes made by the aviator, and mechanical malfunction is when the plane itself does not work as intended.
The most common forms of pilot error include:
Improper training
Commercial pilots are required to complete extensive training before they can officially take on the skies.
This includes receiving a private pilot certificate and logging more than 1,750 total hours of flight experience.
Some pilots, however, receive inaccurate information during the training process or miss crucial parts of the training altogether.
The result is a pilot who is less than qualified to be operating a commercial airliner.
Negligence
Pilots have a reasonable duty of care to the health and safety of those on board the plane.
Failure to uphold this (i.e., a crash resulting from a pilot’s actions) may be considered negligence in the court of law.
Negligence takes many forms and is often the root cause of an aviation accident.
Proving negligence in a lawsuit is a crucial task for the aviation accident lawyer.
Operating under the influence
Pilots performing their job under the influence is rare but does happen.
An article regarding pilot drug & alcohol use by Mashable says that between 2010 and 2015, 64 United States pilots received citations for violating drug and alcohol laws.
But on average, only one pilot is found flying over the legal alcohol limit per month in the US.
Operating without a license
Pilot certification is one of the core requirements for legally operating an aircraft in the US.
There are many types of pilot licenses that correspond to the type of work carried out by the pilot (student, recreational, private, commercial, etc.).
These licenses do not expire.
However, most pilots must undergo recurrent training to stay up-to-date with the latest standards and safety information.
Flying a plane without a license or failing to maintain one’s skills can easily lead to an aviation accident.
Mechanical Malfunction and Mechanical Failure
About 20% of plane crashes happen because of mechanical issues or failure.
Examples include manufacturing defects, design defects, and worn-out parts.
Some mechanical malfunctions begin from pilot errors that go uncorrected.
A malfunctioning airspeed indicator is believed to have contributed to the Boeing 737 crash of 2018.
Lack of maintenance
Commercial airplanes undergo rigorous maintenance checks.
Aircraft maintenance regulations are coordinated by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The most frequent check takes place every 200-300 flights but can vary depending on the type of aircraft or if officials suspect an issue with the vehicle.
Typical maintenance tasks are cleaning, repairing defects, replacing parts, and performing oil changes.
Maintenance requires strategic coordination between mechanics and other airline employees.
In addition to the pilot, these other parties are sometimes responsible for maintenance-related crashes.
Weather
Poor weather conditions are certainly unpleasant for passengers, though rarely does the weather result in a crash by itself.
Pilots closely follow the weather before and during each flight.
Furthermore, commercial aircraft are built to withstand severe weather conditions.
Ground Crew Error
The ground crew consists of technicians, ramp agents, and flight dispatchers.
They are mostly responsible for making sure the runway is fit for takeoff and landing.
Injuries resulting from ground crew errors are scarce but can result from improper runway practices and mechanical negligence.
Passenger Actions
Passenger behavior is another potential source of disaster.
The most common scenario is a hijacking.
Increased security measures have helped mitigate hijackings in recent years.
There have also been accidents caused by excessive weight on the aircraft, possibly from passengers’ overpacking.
It is recommended to always report unsafe passenger behavior during air travel.
Other Causes
Aviation accidents can also happen from collisions with birds, collisions with other aircraft, flying at too low an altitude, or sometimes even unknown causes.
