Hard Truths About Aviation Safety, With Douglas Boyd

By John Zimmerman
Apr 21, 2026
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Pilot's Discretion Podcast, episode 128

The GA accident rate is getting better, but aviation safety researcher Douglas Boyd says there’s still plenty of work to do. He shares a fascinating array of statistics in this episode, pulled from the 300+ papers he has authored, including how many hours is enough to stay proficient, what really causes landing accidents, and the truth about older pilots’ safety record. In the Ready to Copy segment, Dr. Boyd talks about flying out of CG, whether engine TBO really matters, and the best places to visit in Scotland.

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Quotes:

Airline pilots vs. GA pilots: “The good news about general aviation is that safety has improved quite a bit over the last few decades. The not-so-good news is that… it's anywhere up to about a 200-fold higher fatal accident rate for general aviation compared with commercial aviation.”
What GA pilots struggle with: “private pilots have the predilection for landing very fast and bouncing the aircraft”
What airline pilots flying GA struggle with: “the airline pilot moving to the general aviation environment throws aside those restrictions and loves doing things which aren't concordant, shall we say, with Part 91 regulations.”
How GA pilots can stay sharp: “I adhere to the part 121 requirements of going up with an instructor every six months.”
Why regular training matters: “In an emergency, we sink to our level of training, right? We don't rise to the occasion.”
Decision-making skills: “at least 60% of fatal accidents were due to poor aeronautical decision-making. And of course that would include the commonly known get-there-itis.”
What new pilots should focus on: “build some experience, get some real world experience before you step up to the next rating”
Are older pilots less safe than younger pilots? “the bottom line was that the age-adjusted accident rate was no different.”
Why pilots can’t cheat on weight and balance: “Remember that once you're outside of the weight limits, those V-speeds do not apply.”
Treating people with a fear of flying: “about 25% of fearful flyers, at least fearful of the commercial environment, it’s actually an anxiety condition manifesting as a fear of flying.”