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So, it's at least a 30 year old plane. I'm not connected at all with the private aviation industry... What is the useful (safe?) lifespan of an aircraft like t

• masonry 17y ago
  This may be useful: http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/Query.asp http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/Query.asp
• noodle 17y ago
  if you take care of a plane well, especially a small one not being used heavily, it'll last. for reference, most of the big commercial airlines have an average fleet age in the range of 15-20 years.
  • evgen 17y ago
    Airline fleets get a lot more usage than GA planes, but they are also maintained at a much higher rigor than GA planes. With GA planes I would be less concerned with the airframe and more interested in the tach-hours on the engine since the last overhaul.
• pc 17y ago
  It's common. GA aircraft have quite rigorous maintenance schedules, with inspection and overhaul every 50 or 100 hours, which (mostly) keeps even old planes airworthy. Almost all airfields will have plenty of 30 or 40 year old planes.
  • lisper 17y ago
    Much more likely than the age of the airplane was the visibility. PAO has been foggy in the mornings of the last few days, and the photo in the story makes it look like it was foggy when the crash happened.
• c1sc0 17y ago
  Not a GA expert here, skydiver though. GA is indeed far more dangerous than commerical aviation although a well-maintained 30-year old airplane can be perfectly airworthy. We in the skydiving community are used to flying old planes & as long as the maintenance is ok & the airplane has not been pushed too many times outside of its performance envelope everything should be fine. Very sad to see this happen to Tesla.