Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Neelakshi Majumdar

Committee Member

Dr. Keith Walters

Abstract

General aviation accounts for approximately 94% of all civil aviation accidents in the United States, highlighting the need to examine how pilot characteristics and operational factors influence accident risk. With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projecting continued growth in the general aviation pilot population, this study examines the relationship between pilot age, flight experience, and accident risk to inform training and safety interventions. Using the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident records from 2008–2024, along with FAA pilot registration data, we analyze age-related trends in accident likelihood, risk, and phase-of-flight distributions in general aviation operations.

Results show an approximately exponential increase in accident likelihood with increasing pilot age. Despite increasing flight experience with age, accident rates also rise concurrently, with the highest risk observed among pilots aged 80 and above. Injury severity shows a weak positive correlation with age, whereas air-craft damage severity remains largely independent of age. Across all age groups, en route/cruise and approach/landing phases account for the highest accident occurrence, with likelihood increasing with age within these phases. Older pilots (75+) are prone to ten times more risk of being involved in an accident compared to younger pilots (25–29 years). The accident risk also increases with pilot age The findings suggest that accumulated experience alone does not fully mitigate age-related performance effects. The results underscore the need for age-adaptive training strategies, proficiency-based assessment, and human-centered cockpit and decision-support systems to improve safety outcomes across the general aviation pilot population.

Keywords

General Aviation; Pilot Age; Human Factors

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