If safe VFR altitude can't be maintained it is critical to divert to an alternate landing site. Most importantly, our local chapters can continue to provide social forums and formal settings that allow us to learn from more experienced pilots. Also we can fly with them when state OPA or a chapter has a fly-in event we can all attend. I am proud to say the safest and best pilots I have flown with in Oregon have been fellow OPA officers. ASEF has made several articles available in PROP WASH and on the internet to help improve pilot safety in 1999.
National data is still preliminary subject to some change.
But certain conclusions can be made to help our members enjoy safe flights in 2000. The number one cause of fatalities is continued VFR flight intoinstrument conditions. The number two cause of fatalities is in slow maneuvering flight. Accidents usually happen when pilots conduct buzzing, or excessively low level scenic flight. This is easily prevented.