The vast majority of Australian civil fatal aircraft accidents
occur in general aviation (GA) operations. This study examined
Australian civil GA fatal accidents for the period 1991 to 2000,
and covers fatal accident numbers and rates by aircraft type and
operational grouping, timing of accidents, injury levels, pilot
demographics and fatal accident types. Between 1991 and 2000
inclusive, there were 215 fatal accidents and 413 associated
fatalities. Over the ten-year period there were 1.2 GA fatal
accidents per 100,000 hours flown. The annual fatal accident rate
decreased from 1.6 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown in 1991
to 0.9 in 2000. While this decrease was not statistically
significant, subsequent data to the end of 2002 do indicate a
statistically significant decrease. Statistically significant
variations were identified at certain times of the day and week,
indicating that occurrences were more likely to be fatal accidents
at certain times. Reasons for this could not be clearly
identified.