Flight Safety

Originally published in 1998

THE MOST FREQUENT CAUSE FACTORS OF GENERAL AVIATION ACCIDENTS

1. Inadequate Preflight Preparation and/or Planning
2. Failure to Obtain/Maintain Flying Speed
3. Failure to Maintain Directional Control
4. Improper Level-Off During Landing Flare
5. Failure to See and Avoid Objects or Obstructions
6. Mismanagement of Fuel
7. Improper Inflight Decisions or Planning
8. Misjudgment of Distance and/or Speed
9. Selection of Unsuitable Terrain for Landing
10. Improper Operation of Flight Controls

SOURCE: Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA)

GUMP REDEFINED
We continue to see gear up landing accidents. In an effort to reduce these accidents, I have redefined GUMP as follows:

G – Gear Down
U – Undercarriage Down
M – Main Wheels Down
P – Put The Wheels Down

Remember that gas, mixture and prop will not help you taxi in if you don’t put the wheels down and check that they did go down and lock in place.

Aviation Safety is a State of Mind. Think About It.
– Al Neal, Flight Safety Program Manager Flight Standards District Office, Rapid City, SD

GUMP REDEFINED II
How about G-R-U-M-P-H?

G – Gas
R – RADIO | Are you sure the radio is on and tuned to the correct frequency?
U – Undercarriage
M– Mixture
P – Prop
H – Carburetor Heat

It is a good habit even in a fixed -gear and fixed-prop airplane.
– Stuart Faber, Cincinnati, OH

SOURCE: Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA)