Factors Associated with Pilot Fatality in Work-Related Aircraft Crashes, Alaska, 1990–1999

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bensyl, Diana M. ; Conway, George A. ; Moran K
• Description:
  Work-related aircraft crashes are the leading cause of occupational fatality in Alaska, with civilian pilots having the highest fatality rate (410/100,000/year). To identify factors affecting survivability, the authors examined work-related aircraft crashes that occurred in Alaska in the 1990s (1990-1999), comparing crashes with pilot fatalities to crashes in which the pilot survived. Using data from National Transportation Safety Board reports, the authors carried out logistic regression analysis with the following variables: age, flight experience, use of a shoulder restraint, weather conditions (visual flight vs. instrument flight), light conditions (daylight vs. darkness), type of aircraft (airplane vs. helicopter), postcrash fire, crash location (airport vs. elsewhere), and state of residence. In the main-effects model, significant associations were found between fatality and postcrash fire (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.38, 17.37), poor weather (AOR = 4.11, 95% CI: 2.15, 7.87), and non-Alaska resident status (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.20). Protective effects were seen for shoulder restraint use (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.77) and daylight versus darkness (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.99). The finding that state of residence was associated with survivability offers new information on pilot survivability in work-related aircraft crashes in Alaska. These results may be useful in targeting safety interventions for pilots who fly occupationally in Alaska or in similar environments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Aircraft Mortality Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Occupational Injuries Safety
• Keywords:
  Accident-analysis Accident-rates Accident-statistics Accidents Aircrews Author Keywords: Accidents, Occupational Aviation Injuries Models Mortality-data Mortality-rates Occupational-accidents Occupational-hazards Occupational-health Occupational Health Pilots Transportation Traumatic-injuries

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• ISSN:
  0002-9262
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alaska ; Georgia ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research ; AFS - Alaska Field Station
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  154
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021672
• Citation:
  Am J Epidemiol 2001 Dec; 154(11):1037-1042
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Diana M. Bensyl, Alaska Field Station, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4230 University, Suite 310, Anchorage, AK 99508
• Email:
  dbensyl@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Epidemiology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3978c618849bba6ee55f3dd291c46aa05e6f065d917d06189b270a5df902b2a51a1587855d3826a1c115e35def2f76b9e78381e6b2c5e9a577b0c4697fa46f9b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198800/cdc_198800_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 53.61 KB ]