The Killing Zone, Second Edition: How & Why Pilots Die

Don't fly solo before you understand all the dangers of the killing zone.

It could save your life!

This survival guide for new pilots identifies the pitfalls waiting inside the killing zone, the period from 50 to 350 flight hours when they leave their instructors behind and fly as pilot in command for the first time. Although they're privately certified, many of these unseasoned aviators are unaware of the potential accidents that lie ahead while trying to build decision-making skills on their own -- many times falling victim to inexperience.

Based on the first in-depth scientific study of pilot behavior and general aviation flying accidents in over 20 years, The Killing Zone, Second Edition offers practical advice to help identify the time frame in which you are most likely to die. Author and aviation specialist Paul Craig offers rare insights into the special risks new pilots face and includes updated preventive strategies for flying through the killing zone . . . alive:

NEW to the Second Edition: Dealing with Glass Cockpits; GPS Moving Maps; Collision Avoidance Systems; including a new chapter on Available Safety versus Actual Safety

Alerts you to the 12 mistakes likely to kill you

Provides guidelines for avoiding, evading, diverting, correcting, and managing dangers

Includes a "Pilot Personality Self-Assessment Exercise"for an individualized survival strategy

Dr. Paul A. Craig, a longtime pilot, flight instructor, aviation educator, and author, designed and conducted the extensive pilot study that uncovered the Killing Zone. Driven by a lifelong concern with the high accident rate among general aviation pilots, Dr. Craig has conducted research projects for universities, the FAA, and NASA that has targeted the problem. Since 2002, he has worked as the principal investigator for NASA projects investigating scenario-based flight training, competency-based flight training, Technically Advanced Aircraft, ADS-B implementation, and teamwork among aviation disciplines. Dr. Craig is an Airline Transport Pilot and Gold Seal Flight Instructor for multiengine, instrument, and seaplane. He has twice been named an FAA District Flight Instructor of the Year. Dr. Craig won the NASA "Turning Goals into Reality" award in 2005 and the Wheatley Award as the nation's most outstanding aviation educator in 2004. He is a frequent speaker to flight instructors and others on improving flight training and safety. He is the author of Pilot in Command; Be a Better Pilot; Stalls & Spins; Multiengine Flying, 3rd Edition; and Controlling Pilot Error - Situation Awareness and Light Airplane Navigation Essentials.