TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2002//
TI  - Exploratory spatial analysis of pilot fatality rates in general aviation crashes using geographic information systems
JO  - American journal of epidemiology
A1  - Li, Guohua
A1  - Baker, Susan Pardee
A1  - Curriero, Frank C.
A1  - Grabowski, Jurek G.
SP  - 398
EP  - 405
VL  - 155
IS  - 5
N2  - Geographic information systems and exploratory spatial analysis were used to describe the geographic characteristics of pilot fatality rates in 1983-1998 general aviation crashes within the continental United States. The authors plotted crash sites on a digital map; rates were computed at regular grid intersections and then interpolated by using geographic information systems. A test for significance was performed by using Monte Carlo simulations. Further analysis compared low-, medium-, and high-rate areas in relation to pilot characteristics, aircraft type, and crash circumstance. Of the 14,051 general aviation crashes studied, 31% were fatal. Seventy-four geographic areas were categorized as having low fatality rates and 53 as having high fatality rates. High-fatality-rate areas tended to be mountainous, such as the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian region, whereas low-rate areas were relatively flat, such as the Great Plains. Further analysis comparing low-, medium-, and high-fatality-rate areas revealed that crashes in high-fatality-rate areas were more likely than crashes in other areas to have occurred under instrument meteorologic conditions and to involve aircraft fire. This study demonstrates that geographic information systems are a valuable tool for injury prevention and aviation safety research.
LA  - 
SN  - 0002-9262
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -