Ask A Scientist© Engineering Archive

Index Key:   ENG008
Author:      mindy l barry
Subject:     Airplane crashes.
Why, all of a sudden, are so many planes crashing?

Response #:  1 of 2
Author:      david r munoz
Hi Mindy:
It does make one wonder, when these things happen so close together. 
However, if you consider how many airplanes land a tale off from a single
airport everyday and then consider how many large airports there are in the
world.  It is a wonder that we do not have more crashes.  This thought does
not really help those who loose loved ones in a crash.
I suppose that there are a number of people asking the same questions as you
and fortunately, many of these people are in a position to find out and do


something positive about any problem that is found.  There is a group called
the National Transportation Safety Board, which consists of knowledgeable
people whose job it is to investigate such accidents.  They are charged with
the responsibility of determining who was at fault (pilot, airplane design-
er, traffic control official, equipment, etc.) and then following through
with a detailed report so that we learn by each failure, thereby preventing
other failures in the future.

Response #:  2 of 2
Author:      wildman jackson
What do you mean by "so many?"  USAir has been having problems recently, but
I am not sure why.  The other airlines seem to be doing fine.  Could be
negligence in maintenance, or the massive influx of defective parts (which
most jets now have on them - much to the company's surprise).  
Compared to driving, your chances of dying in a plane crash are nearly zero.