There has been a plethora of private plane crashes in recent days.   From Texas, to New Jersey to Arizona, a number of people in the general aviation community have lost their lives this week. 

After every such tragedy, the word "why" echoes.

Did weather play a role or did the airplane suffer a mechanical failure?   What happened and why are those that I love gone?

The sad fact is, most airplane accidents - the overwhelming  majority - result from human error and most of those result from poor decision-making.   A cursory review of the National Transportation Safety Board "(NTSB") accident statistics database reveals the usual suspects:

1.  Fuel mismanagement - flying to a destination Six (6) hours away with five (5) hours of fuel on board;

2.  Flying into winter weather beyond the capabilities of plane and pilot;

3. Ignoring minor mechanical problems on the ground in favor of full-blown emergencies in the air;

4.  Making reaching the destination on time a higher priority than reaching the destination at all; and

5.  Substituting experience for common sense.

Are general aviation aircraft, so-called "small airplanes," dangerous?   No, quite the contrary.  However, what we choose to do or not do with them may be. 

Pressing on in the face of low fuel is dangerous.   Flying into known icing conditions in a single engine piston aircraft is dangerous.  Taking off with a faltering engine is dangerous.  Penetrating a strong cold front rather than landing and waiting for it to pass is dangerous.   Assuming an experienced pilot's skill will overcome all adversity is dangerous.

Yet, during the Holiday Season when we expect to be with family and friends and family and friends expect us to be there, forces conspire to encourage pilots to take chances that they ordinarily would not take.

Aviation, although rule-bound by physics, is inherently safe.   Break those rules, and it can be terribly unforgiving.

Think twice, maybe three times about taking that flight after a long day with descending ceilings.  Will another day really matter?  Who says you cannot celebrate Christmas on the 26th?  Concluding that you should not have flown at Ten Thousand Feet in the dark is a conclusion best reached in the FBO or even before you leave for the airport.  You owe it to yourself, your family, your friends and to our community.

Be smart, be safe, and fly not into eternity.

Merry Christmas