Why Planes Crash: Pilot Error and the Human Factor in General Aviation | Lasso Air 11/11

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Aviation has always represented freedom and Lasso Air is designed to turn that freedom into a modern, digital experience that connects people to aircraft, opportunity, and the future of flight. Lasso Air is a next-generation aviation lifestyle, listing, and technology platform that connects aviators, buyers, and enthusiasts to the freedom of flight with intelligence and speed.

Leading Lasso Air is Steven Sillin, founder of Fly Cruise Air at French Valley Airport, an entrepreneur with years of hands-on aviation experience. Sillin has joined forces with MacroEdge, a global leader in financial services and economic intelligence, to bring the technology and management power required to scale Lasso Air into a leader in the aviation industry.

Why Planes Crash: A Modern Analysis for Aircraft Owners

At Lasso Air, we believe the story behind an aviation accident can be as instructive as the data itself. Among general aviation, one truth remains clear: pilot error leads the causal list. One data set reports that approximately 69% of general aviation accidents are attributed to pilot error. Another comprehensive review places the proportion in the 70% or higher range.

Take two recent examples. A twin-engine Cessna 414 crashed off the coast of San Diego soon after takeoff, its pilot reporting difficulty maintaining heading and climb before impact. And in Montana, what appears to have been a poor weather decision by the pilot led to loss of control during descent, both accidents illustrating how judgment and external factors combine.

These incidents serve not to sensationalize, but to highlight a critical point: owning an aircraft demands more than flying one. It demands the right pilot. In our preceding article, we focused on selecting your pilot; now, we observe how choosing the wrong one can lead directly to the crash statistics.

When you consider your aircraft-ownership journey, note: a pilot’s qualifications and currency are non-negotiable. But so are their decision-making, weather hazard recognition, and willingness to say “no” to a risky departure or marginal conditions. Statistics show that mechanical failures, while still real, account for far fewer accidents than the human element.

Helping aircraft owners turn risk into insight means understanding that the right pilot is not just an operator - they are a partner in safety, asset protection, and operational success. And the data says that choice could well separate a routine flight from a tragedy

Sources

Pilot Institute – Is Flying Safer Than Driving?https://pilotinstitute.com/is-flying-safer-than-driving/

AOPA Air Safety Institute – Richard G. McSpadden Accident Analysis Reporthttps://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/air-safety-institute/accident-analysis/richard-g-mcspadden-report

CBS News – Plane Crashes Off San Diego Coast; Coast Guard Search Underwayhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-crash-san-diego-coast-guard-search-missing-people/

Pilots of America Forum – Aztec Down in Montana Wildernesshttps://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/aztec-down-in-montana-wilderness.152639/

Pilot Institute – Common Causes of Aviation Accidentshttps://pilotinstitute.com/aviation-accident-causes/