The Accident Case Study recreates the tragic events that led a novice backcountry pilot to crash on final approach to a backcountry airstrip in California’s Mojave Desert in 2021, killing both himself and his pilot-rated passenger.
Air Safety Institute
Expert Insights Video Series Takes Off
The new series features interviews with specialists in their fields, who give pilots information on a wide range of topics relevant to general aviation safety, as well as tips they can use right away.
Early Analysis of Steamboat Springs Accident Released
A new video from the Air Safety Institute looks at the Feb. 13, 2026, accident that claimed four lives.
GA accidents down, flight hours up
Key takeaways from the latest report from the Air Safety Institute show that in 2023 there were 1,097 general aviation accidents in the United States, including 186 that were fatal. The overall accident rate fell to 3.86 per 100,000 flight hours, down from 4.3 in 2022, and the fatal accident rate declined to 0.65 from 0.68 the year before.
New AOPA video examines crash that killed one of its own
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released a new video examining an accident in Lake Placid, New York, on Oct. 1, 2023, that took the lives of former NFL player Russ Francis and AOPA’s own Richard McSpadden.
Early Analysis on Baron crash released
“In Early Analysis: Baron B55 Crash in Monterey, CA, we appear to have a loss-of-control incident that could have happened because of spatial disorientation,” said AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Vice President Mike Ginter. “The weather was clearly IMC, with clouds below 1,000 feet.”
New accident case study: Fair Weather Flier
“This is an accident type we see all too often,” said AOPA’s ASI Senior Vice President Mike Ginter. “The pilot flew into clearly deteriorating weather conditions, untrained and unprepared to deal with them.”
More than 5,000 pilots take part in safety campaign
In the wake of recent high-profile general aviation accidents in New York and Florida, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute reports that more than 5,000 pilots have already participated in the National Pause for General Aviation Safety.
Completely avoidable insurance claims
In the new video, the AOPA Air Safety Institute (ASI) takes a look at some of the costly insurance claims and avoidable mistakes pilots make on the ground — along with some simple ways to protect their airplanes, their emotional well-being, and all of general aviation’s insurance premiums.