Citation

Li G, Baker SP. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 1994; 65(11): 979-985.

Affiliation

Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Aerospace Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7840750

Abstract

With a case-control design, this study examined the relationships of crash/incident history, violation history, pilot age, flight experience, and recent flight time with the likelihood of being involved in commuter aircraft and air taxi crashes. Cases (n = 725) were pilots who had been involved in commuter aircraft or air taxi crashes during 1983-88, identified from the National Transportation Safety Board aviation crash data base. From the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airmen information system, 1,555 pilots were randomly selected as controls. Controls were frequently-matched with cases on medical class and calendar year. Different data bases within the FAA's airmen information system were linked to ascertain information about crash/incident and violation records in the previous 3 years, age, total flight time, and flight time in the prior 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to estimate odds ratios and evaluate dose-response effects, non-linear relationships, and interactions. Cases had significantly higher prevalence rates of prior crash/incident and violation records. The estimated odds ratio of being involved in a commuter aircraft or an air taxi crash was 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.4) for crash/incident history, and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.1-2.2) for violation history. A "dose-response effect" was found with both crash/incident history and violation history, with higher odds ratios for pilots with crashes versus incidents or with more serious violations. Total flight time showed a diminishing protective effect. Either very small or very large recent flight time increased the risk of being involved in a commuter aircraft or an air taxi crash.