Quote Originally Posted by mikey View Post
bad for business.
True statement right there.

My wife was dismayed when I said that it seems like every year, there is at least one fatal accident related in some way to Oshkosh. (She wasn't at that show, but was the first person to inform me of the multiple arrival accidents, as well as the seaplane accident). Be that at the show (i.e., the seaplane accident), or on the way to/fro. While the number of KOSH operations may make it the busiest airport for the week, the sheer number of ancillary operations around the country in support of or related to Oshkosh has to be incredible... so it stands to reason that, statistically, things will happen.

I'm not sure how I'd be able to handle that as an organizer, knowing that my event is the reason (not the cause... the reason - a very large distinction) for a fatality. I suppose the most appropriate reaction is that ultimately, the PIC is the one responsible for their life and that of their passengers. Perhaps the better question is: how can Oshkosh *improve* the statistics for aircraft operations related to the event?

I think they've addressed this in large part with all of the incredibly educational forums available. From topics like Preventing LOC - Ground and LOC - Air (both very informative), as well as the forum on actually arriving to Oshkosh. It sure sounds like the vast majority of fatal accidents that are in some way related to Oshkosh boil down to one simple thing: pilot error or misjudgment. Case in point: the numerous pilots who seem to think that the NOTAM is optional for them. Or don't even know it exists.

We simply need to be better pilots.

A memorial wall would be bad form, and bad press. GA already has a hard enough time as it is (look at general population comments on Facebook every time a small plane goes down. We have a PR problem). Continued effort at education and reforming bad pilot behavior patterns is the best form of "memorial" that the EAA could build.