Risk and Reality Among Agricultural Pilots

We conducted a web-based survey of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 137 certificate holders and pilots. These were individuals who owned agricultural aviation operations or flew in agricultural settings applying product to crops. A total of 831 responded to the survey and this represents a 38% response rate among Part 137 certificate holders.

To assess risk perceptions, operators and pilots were asked to rate 12 hazards on a scale of one to ten where ten was the highest risk. Power lines, communications and meteorological towers, wind turbines, rotating props and birds were rated highest risk.

To assess actual incidents and determine if risk perceptions differed from reported incidents, we reviewed narrative reports from 380 incidents reported in the NTSB Aviation Accident Database and Synopses occurring between 1/1/2009 and 1/1/2014. Incidents occurred in 40 states. Sixty four incidents occurred in 2009, 83 in 2010, 98 in 2011, 67 in 2012 and 68 in 2013.

Content of the narrative reports was codified and included type aircraft, weather conditions, injuries and severity, actions of the pilot, equipment damage, hazards and probable cause. This study explores risk perceptions of operators and pilots and the true relative frequency of accident events based on the narrative accounts of past accidents. This analysis will not only consider the cause of the incidents but the relative severity in terms of equipment loss and injury.

Key words: Agricultural aviation, risk perception, Aircraft pilot