In this case, if we can decrease the January rate, we may see a carryover into the following months which are also historically high mishap months. In the end, I can no more tell you what's wrong with January than I can tell you what's right with December. I can tell you the majority of our mishaps during the year are people mishaps, and in January that percentage goes even higher. I can tell you that although you may fly fewer sorties in January, they are the highest risk sorties you will fly that year. Finally, I can also tell you, after working four Class A mishaps in one year and seeing the results of four fatalities on the families, friends, and squadrons, there is no good month for a mishap.
Mishaps are a statistical certainty.
Class A mishaps and fatalities are not. This January, let's work toward starting the year off right by padding what we do with a little extra caution and the realization that the greatest risk of a mishap is staring us in the mirror every morning.