P.M. BRIEFING : Pilot Slips Cited in Most Crashes

Technological advancements in air travel have made flying safer in the last 20 years, leaving the pilot as the most fallible element in commercial airline service, a study reported today.

The study, conducted by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, said pilot error is a probable cause of nearly eight out of 10 crashes of scheduled passenger flights, with mechanical error the cause of only 16%.

The majority of airplane accidents occur during takeoff and landing, not during flight, the study showed.

The Traveler study analyzed the accident and fatality statistics of 80 domestic and foreign airlines for the period 1968 through 1988 and found U.S. airlines had an overall safety record better than Western European airlines.

The study identified Pan Am as the major U.S. carrier with the highest gross fatality rate, but it pointed out that four of Pan Am’s accidents were due to terrorism.

American Airlines had the lowest accident rate, excluding some regional carriers with no fatal crashes.