Relationships between U.S. Navy carrier landing accidents and flight experience parameters

Carrier arrested landing activity of all aviators flying naval attack and fighter aircraft were analized with aircraft accident data to determine whether statistical relationships exist between lifetime and recent experience variables, and accident liability. The results demonstrate that accident potential, though not statistically related to carrier landings in 30-d periods, is significantly correlated with lifetime experience and with landing activity in 7-d periods. The highest accident rates are associated with minimal amounts of total carrier experience. Moreover, accident liability for inexperience carrier aviators is lowest if number of landings in 7-d periods are high.