19) SEAT SLIDES BACK ACCIDENTS

Pilot seats are constructed such that they have a tremendous variance in position. Normally full aft for getting in and out of the plane, and mostly forward for operation of the plane. This is so that the pilot can reach the pedals on the floor and be close to panel controls for operations. The total distance of travel on some planes is as much as 18 inches. In this unfortunate scenario, a pilot seat can unlock and slide aft during the acceleration of takeoff. This causes the pilot to pull aft briskly on the control yoke or stick. From outside the plane, the aircraft appears to leap skyward in a very sharp climb until it stalls and returns to earth in an unsurvivable crash.