Analysis of Mid-Air Collisions in Civil Aviation

Abstract

Mid Air Collisions (MAC) are tragic events, with the potential of multiple fatalities. Despite the improving trends in aviation safety, the rate of MAC has remained stable for the past few years. There is an absence of published literature on MAC and related human performance issues. Consequently, this study analyzed 79 mid air collisions in civil aviation in the United States from 1994 to 1999 in an attempt to further understand the causes of these accidents. Contextual data was analyzed in terms of accident location, phase of flight, type of aircraft operation, visibility conditions, and direction of aircraft trajectories (same vs. opposite direction). Pilot factors were also examined, including recent flying experience and medical certification. An attempt is made to interpret the results in terms of recent models of pilot vigilance and scan patterns. Recommendations are made for possible future research in the area.