Everyone read the headlines a couple of weeks ago regarding two small aircraft that collided in the air and crashed into a residential area of Denver, Colorado. The circumstances of the crash are sobering since both pilots were receiving VFR advisories from air traffic control, which is an extra measure of safety not required by either pilot, and yet they still managed to find each other in that “big” sky. Of note, my own flying will change in that I will not be lured into complacency when receiving VFR advisories from ATC.

The media went wild with the story, and even the Mayor of Denver called for an immediate investigation to “the number of low flying aircraft over Denver.” Of course, the media failed to report that the last mid-air collision in Colorado was over 29 years ago. In fact, in 49 million general aviation flights in 2002, there were only 7 mid-air collisions, and only four of those produced fatalities (AOPA Safety Foundation). Certainly there is room for improvement, but methinks this is hardly a crisis, Mr. Mayor.