In flying, I have learned that carelessness and overconfidence are usually far more dangerous than deliberately accepted risks. Wilbur Wright in a letter to his father, September 1900

Are Small Airplanes Safe?
In most cases they are as safe as the pilots flying them. Safety requires discipline and continual training and learning.  Good safety habits start with your first lesson. Most pilots feel safer in a plane than driving on the freeway to get to the airport.

Are Some Pilots Safer than Others?
Yes!  At a recent FAA safety seminar, it was stated that pilots that attend safety seminars and complete the Wings Program have nine times fewer accidents than pilots who don't!  This is a phenomenal difference. Also, people with risky behaviors have more accidents.  Since around 85% of all accidents are attributed to pilot error, you can increase your safety significantly by learning about and the avoiding the errors of others. Read everything you can about safety, and attend safety seminars regularly. 

Aviation Safety News
Subscribe to Max Trescott's free online safety newsletter by sending an email with your email address.   You can find a sample issue of Aviation Safety News here. 

FAA Safety Seminars & Wings Program 
The FAA sponsors many local seminars each month on a wide variety of topics at local airports.  You can find a schedule of local events and other safety related information at www.FAASafety.gov. You can also register so you'll receive email notification whenever new seminars are announced in your area.  

All pilots are required to have a Flight Review with an instructor every two years to maintain proficiency.  An alternative is participating in the FAA Wings Program. Pilots who attend a safety seminar, and take 3 hours of flight training will receive a Wings Program award and credit for a Flight Review. The Air Safety Foundation offers an online seminar on runway incursions that counts for seminar credit toward the Wings program. 

Index of FAA Accident Prevention Brochures
P-8740-2    HTML PDF   Density Altitude
P-8740-3    HTML PDF   Time in Your Tanks
P-8740-5    HTML PDF   Weight And Balance
P-8740-9    HTML PDF   Descent to MDA and Beyond
P-8740-12  HTML PDF   Thunderstorms
P-8740-13  HTML PDF   Engine Operations
P-8740-15A HTML PDF  Maintenance Aspects of owning your own airplane  
P-8740-17  HTML PDF   Learning Good Judgment
P-8740-20  HTML PDF   Flying Light Twins Safely
P-8740-20  HTML PDF   Preventing Accidents During  Ground Operations
P-8740-22  HTML PDF   Dead Reckoning Navigation 
P-8740-23  HTML PDF   Planning Your Takeoff
P-8740-24  HTML PDF   Tips on Winter Flying
P-8740-25  HTML PDF   Always Leave Yourself an Out
P-8740-29  HTML PDF   Meet Your Aircraft
P-8740-15  HTML PDF   Meet Your Aircraft - Quiz
P-8740-30B HTML PDF How to Obtain a Good Weather Briefing
P-8740-32  HTML PDF  Using the System
P-8740-35A HTML PDF  All about Fuel
P-8740-36  HTML PDF   Proficiency And The Private Pilot
P-8740-37  HTML PDF  The Propwatcher's Guide
P-8740-38  HTML PDF   Human Behavior - The No. 1 Cause Of Accidents
P-8740-39  HTML PDF  Balloon Safety
P-8740-40  HTML PDF  Wind Shear
P-8740-41  HTML PDF  Medical Facts for Pilots
P-8740-42  HTML PDF  Safe Flying for Agricultural Aviation
P-8740-43  HTML PDF  Aviation Safety Counselor
P-8740-44  HTML PDF   Impossible Turn
P-8740-47  HTML PDF  Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques
P-8740-48  HTML PDF   On Landings - Part I
P-8740-49  HTML PDF   On Landings - Part II
P-8740-50  HTML PDF   On Landings - Part III
P-8740-51  HTML PDF   How to Avoid a Mid-Air Collision
P-8740-52  HTML PDF   The Silent Emergency
P-8740-53  HTML PDF   Introduction To Pilot Judgment
P-8740-56  HTML PDF   Personal Minimums Checklist
P-8740-57  HTML PDF   Skydiving Parachute Operations
P-8740-58  HTML PDF   Water Survival
P-8740-59  HTML PDF   Land Survival: Are You Prepared?
P-8740-60  HTML PDF   Mountain Flying Pamphlet
P-8740-61  HTML PDF   Mountain Flying Checklist
P-8740-62  HTML PDF   Flying for Skydive Operations
P-8740-63  HTML PDF   Runway Incursions Handout
P-8740-64  HTML PDF   Airport Signs and Markings
P-8740-65  HTML PDF   First Responders
P-8740-66  HTML PDF   Flying Light Twins Safely
P-8740-67  HTML PDF   Passenger Briefing Card
P-8740-68  HTML PDF   Flat Light & Whiteout Conditions
                   HTML PDF   Wake Turbulence
If you find an electronic copy we don't have, please email us. 
Hard copies of most of these can be ordered from the FAA 

Other FAA Sponsored Safety Programs
FAA Advisory Circulars
FAA Crash Survival Information
FAA Judgment Training for Student Pilots* temporarily unavailable

Air Safety Foundation (ASF)
ASF Nall Report Nall Report 2003 is the AOPA Air Safety Foundations review of general aviation aircraft accidents that occurred during 2002.
ASF Online Safety Publications
Free ASF Safety Seminars

Accident Summaries
NTSB Accident Database
FAA Incident Database

NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)
NASA operates ASRS, which collects, analyzes, and responds to voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident reports in order to lessen the likelihood of aviation accidents. From the ASRS home page you'll can go to "Publications" or directly to CALLBACK, to read or download the monthly summary of reported incidents. To subscribe to the monthly mailing of CALLBACK, send an email to asrs-subscribe@lists.arc.nasa.gov and include your name and mailing address. 

Bay Area Air Traffic Control Facilities
You can  a lot by visiting control towers, NorCal approach, and Oakland Center.  Here's an online description. You can also see the pictures from a visit to Reid-Hillview airport tower.

Aircraft Type Associations 
Joining an association for the type of plane you fly most often will help you understand and maintain the plane.
Cessna Pilots Association

Contact us today!
        Phone:  650-224-7124
        Or email us now.

Attention Bay Area pilots:  Max Trescott recently completed an analysis of fatal accidents in the Bay Area for the past ten years. The key results are that fatal accidents are twice as likely to occur at night as compared to the rest of the U.S. Also, VFR into IMC accidents are up to 6 times more likely than in the rest of the U.S. Register at faasafety.gov  to receive email notification of the next seminar detailing Bay area accident analysis.

Online Training for the Garmin G1000! Take VFR and IFR G1000 courses now over the internet on your computer. Only $59 per course! Learn more or take the course now.

Or, for only $34.95, order Max Trescott's G1000 Glass Cockpit Handbook 

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