Aircraft Accidents Caused by Weath
Abstract
Accidents in the aviation industry can occur due to many factors. An aviation accident is the worst nightmare of every pilot or passenger that has ever ridden in an aircraft. Although air travel is one of the safest forms of transportation, accidents do happen with dramatic and terrifying results. The causes of these aviation accidents vary greatly depending on specific circumstances and problems that may develop during the flight process. Weather is one of the factors that can influence an aircraft accident in a number of ways. There are several weather factors that cause and contributed to aircraft accidents. An aircraft can become directly impacted by weather when they are struck by lightning in storms, blown off course, incur malfunctions due to icing up of engine and wing parts, or are bounced about in the air by turbulence. Even if the act of weather itself doesn’t cause an accident the distraction of the weather could cause an accident.
Introduction
Weather plays a significant role in a great number of aircraft accidents and incidents. Weather is one major issue that is not within the control of technology or aviation system planners. Statistics has indicated that 28% of general aviation accidents involved adverse weather conditions (PlaneCrashInfo). Weather conditions can cause aircraft accidents indirectly as well. An aircraft that encounters adverse weather often has to travel out of its way to miss flying through a storm, and this can dangerously reduce its fuel level. Furthermore, adverse weather conditions such as haze can cause problems with visibility or disorientation can lead to an accident. Weather conditions can also affect the performance of an aircraft, like when parts are iced and cease to function. In most cases, adverse weather can be a distraction on land and in the air. Distractions are often the cause to many accidents. Weather conditions influence the frequency of aircraft accidents in many ways. Some of the weather factors
Accidents in the aviation industry can occur due to many factors. An aviation accident is the worst nightmare of every pilot or passenger that has ever ridden in an aircraft. Although air travel is one of the safest forms of transportation, accidents do happen with dramatic and terrifying results. The causes of these aviation accidents vary greatly depending on specific circumstances and problems that may develop during the flight process. Weather is one of the factors that can influence an aircraft accident in a number of ways. There are several weather factors that cause and contributed to aircraft accidents. An aircraft can become directly impacted by weather when they are struck by lightning in storms, blown off course, incur malfunctions due to icing up of engine and wing parts, or are bounced about in the air by turbulence. Even if the act of weather itself doesn’t cause an accident the distraction of the weather could cause an accident.
Introduction
Weather plays a significant role in a great number of aircraft accidents and incidents. Weather is one major issue that is not within the control of technology or aviation system planners. Statistics has indicated that 28% of general aviation accidents involved adverse weather conditions (PlaneCrashInfo). Weather conditions can cause aircraft accidents indirectly as well. An aircraft that encounters adverse weather often has to travel out of its way to miss flying through a storm, and this can dangerously reduce its fuel level. Furthermore, adverse weather conditions such as haze can cause problems with visibility or disorientation can lead to an accident. Weather conditions can also affect the performance of an aircraft, like when parts are iced and cease to function. In most cases, adverse weather can be a distraction on land and in the air. Distractions are often the cause to many accidents. Weather conditions influence the frequency of aircraft accidents in many ways. Some of the weather factors
References: Brief of Accident. National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved from http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/368.pdf FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, FAA-H-8083-25A, 2008 Marder, Jenny. (August 3, 2011). Airplane Turbulence: Is It Dangerous?. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/08/airplane-turbulence-how-dangerous-is-it.html NTSB (1996) Weener, Earl. (February 1, 2011). Lessons from Icing Accidents and Incidents. Retrieved from http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/speeches/weener/weener_020111.pdf