Safest GA Plane

[NookyBooky]

My thread on the Navion brought up an interesting question: what is the safest GA plane? Things to consider: stability, glide ratio, reliability, durability, climb rate, spin characteristics, vulnerability to fire, ease of escape from cabin, etc....











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[vclean]

The one that stays in the hanger.

 

[sky37d]

The one that stays in the hanger.

and is never flown

 

[Mmmmmm Burritos]

A blimp! What do I win?

 

[tdwnds1]

Safest GA Airplane

Just going by experience I would have to say your average C-172 is probably the safest GA aircraft out there. Heres why:

1.) Easy to fly, when I was instructing I had most students flying it to some extent of the first day.

2.) Good stall/spin characterisitcs: The plane DEFINITELY lets you know when it is about to stall, you get a pretty good buffet. The airplane is difficult to put into a spin unless you do something really stupid and generally even if you panic and let go of the controls it will come out of the spin (altitude permittting)

4.) Forgiving: I cant tell you how many times my students used to really try to crunch the thing in on landing. The oleo strut landing gear takes ALOT punishment and still comes back for more.

5.) Reliability: The Lycoming (Textron) engine is simple and in the 1200 hours or so that I have flow cessna I have rarely ever even heard it hiccup.

6.) Visibility: For light GA aircraft I really like high wings, though others will disagree. I think they are more stable in crosswinds and you get a much better view with the exception of certain climbs.

- Just my 2 cents.

 

[UnAnswerd]

MU2...

 

[TDTURBO]

MU2...

Ya sure, that's it.


Seriously though, the Nall report and several other publications state the 182 as the safest.

 

[501261]

Off the top of my head, I think the Spruce Goose is one of the few airplanes with a perfect safety record.

 

[TDTURBO]

Off the top of my head, I think the Spruce Goose is one of the few airplanes with a perfect safety record.

I think in the literal sense you are correct along with several other rarely flown planes, but when you compare fleet hrs to fatality rates, nothing beats the 182.

 

[BD King]

The 182 may in fact be correct. However, if I were a betting guy, I would say a 172.

www.bdkingpress.com

 

[C172gal05]

172's are pretty easy...safety depends on a lot of factors though!

 

[TDTURBO]

172's are pretty easy...safety depends on a lot of factors though!

The safest plane is the one I'm not flying.

 

[BD King]

172's are pretty easy...safety depends on a lot of factors though!

Actually, I recall that the 172 has proven itself. The determination is made from the estimated hours flown verses the number of airplanes built verses the number of fatal crashes.

www.bdkingpress.com

 

[flyinlow67]

The one with a safe, competent pilot at the controls.

 

[MVSW]

The safest plane is the one I'm not flying.

yeah...thats what I was saying when I was reading this post!!LOL

 

[9GClub]

SR-22 cause of the "oh cr*p" handle.





Riiiiiiiight..........

 

[rubberducky]

According to FLYING about a year beck it is the C172...but I think its any plane that a doctor isn't flying

 

[JohnE]

Diamond Katana (DA20-A1) also agree with the C172. Do a search on the ntsb site for the DA20-A1. No U.S. fatalities.

One student was cleared to land on 16L and thought it was 16R. A 737 was cleared to land on 16R. The student got caught in the wake turbulence very close to the 737. The katana rolled and crashed into the ground upside down. Both people survived. Wonder if they have any back problems?

 

[UnAnswerd]

I always thought PA28 was considered pretty forgiving, no?

 

[ackattacker]

The piper cub is the safest airplane in the sky. It can just barely kill you.

 

[PaulThomas]

It can just barely kill you.

What's the difference between being barely dead and completly dead

 

[eggman76]

What's the difference between being barely dead and completly dead

An extra $5,000 for the mortician to make you look good at your funeral.

 

[PAPA FOX!]

The safest plane is the one I'm not flying.

The safest plane is whatever one I AM flying!!

 

[siucavflight]

The Lancair has never had a fatal crash.

 

[FlyJordan]

High wings are gay.

My $0.02

 

[Traumahawk]

Piper Tomahawk.


Safest cause it weeds out the idiots...thats why we're all safer.

You have feet don't you??


T-Hawk

 

[LJDRVR]

Actually the Bell 206 Jet Ranger. (Hours flown vs. fatalities)

Give me some time and I'll pull up the reference for everybody. The only other aircraft with numbers as good is believe it or not, the C-130 Hercules.

 

[jetdriven]

there has not been one in flight airframe failure of a c-182 or c-172 ever. pretty safe airplane if you ask me.

 

[TDTURBO]

there has not been one in flight airframe failure of a c-182 or c-172 ever. pretty safe airplane if you ask me.

Wrong! There have been 2 inflight structural failures in 172's, none for 182's.

They happened within weeks apart last year.

 

[Ill Mitch]

Actually the Bell 206 Jet Ranger. (Hours flown vs. fatalities)

Give me some time and I'll pull up the reference for everybody. The only other aircraft with numbers as good is believe it or not, the C-130 Hercules.

I remember reading that about the Jet Ranger. I told my uncle (who introduced me to flying at a young age, and who is anti-helicopter) and he said "Yea right...the article is B.S".

I believe the C-172 came in 2nd.