I've watched the statistics for the last few years and studied the various accident descriptions, hoping to spot flaws in my own flying skills or decision making.  There have been many posts interpreting the data Jeff presented but here's my own interpretation.  Whether the percentage is 12% or 7% or .01%, the important thing to do is personalize these numbers and realize that every flight we take could end up on Jeff's graph.  Even if the Lancair accident data was ten times better, we still need to get recurrent training, maintain our aircraft, and have a healthy respect for the risk we take every time we leave the ground.  For me, the graph represents the fine line between landing safely at my destination or ending up hamburger under a blue tarp.

 

Mike Easley

Colorado Springs