In 2021 general aviation, the total number of accidents increased due to which factor?

• A. Increased flight activity
• B. Older fleet
• C. Reduced training
• D. Weather anomalies

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is exposure. The total number of accidents tends to rise when more flying occurs because there are more opportunities for something to go wrong. In 2021, flight activity rebounded as operations and trips picked up after the pandemic lull, so the overall hours and number of flights increased. Even if the safety performance per hour didn’t change, more hours mean more chances for an accident to happen, which pushes the total accident count up.

Other factors like an older fleet, reduced training, or weather quirks can influence risk, but the data for that year show the spike lined up with higher flight activity, making increased exposure the best explanation for the rise in total accidents.