Go-around accidents and general aviation safety

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordIntroduction: Changes in General Aviation (GA) accident rates, specifically in the go-around phase, are examined by comparing the number of accidents, the proportion of fatal accidents and the proportion of certain causes of accidents over time. Methods: Two sets of accidents from 2000 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2017 were extracted from the National Transportation Safety Board online database. Results: Although the total number of GA accidents per landing significantly decreased over time, the proportion of fatal accidents in the go-around phase increased. Fatalities most often occurred in instrument meteorological conditions. Conclusion: Advances in technology and training show improvements in GA accident rates but not for accidents in the go-around phase. Scenario-based learning is recommended to include specific instruction concerning the timing of go-around procedures in unstable flights