AOPA Air Safety Foundation announces new, improved accident database
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation launched today a new and improved version of its online accident database. The foundation has added keyword search capability, additional search criteria, and cross-references to related topics.
"The database is one of the most popular locations on the AOPA Online Safety Center," said Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. "The enhanced capabilities make it an even more useful resource for pilots, researchers, and others in the aviation industry who use it to conduct basic case study research."
The improved database allows users to search using keywords that the Air Safety Foundation has attached to the appropriate accident reports, which means the result of each search will be a more accurate listing of appropriate accidents.
For example, selecting the term "medical" will only result in accidents for which a medical condition is relevant, not all accident reports in which a medical condition is mentioned.
The foundation also has added additional search criteria, such as light conditions and the basic weather at the time of the accident. The end result is a more precise, searchable database.
"There are always questions about what the conditions were at the time of the accident," said Landsberg. "We now provide that."
As an additional aid to researchers, ASF now offers cross-references on some searches, so the user can see other keywords related to their search. For example, someone who is searching for VFR-into-IMC accidents also will be referred to spatial disorientation accidents for additional information.
The ASF Accident Database, funded in part by the Emil Buehler Trust, is the only general aviation-specific accident database in existence. It is composed of NTSB accident reports from 1983 to present, involving fixed-wing aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or less. The objective is to encourage a safer aviation future by learning from the past.
September 12, 2005
