Did you watch the devastating footage of the jet crash at Aspen-Pitkin County yesterday?  The airport captivated national attention after a private plane crash landed, flipped over and was soon engulfed in flames. The crash killed co-pilot, Sergio Carranza Brabata of Mexico, and injured two passengers.

This was not the first incident at Aspen-Pitkin County, which has earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous airports in the US. Keep in mind, most experienced pilots will tell you that there is no such thing as a truly “dangerous” commercial airport because no commercial airline would be able to get the liability insurance coverage.

Instead, in the majority of all plane crashes, pilot error is the most probable cause. But a major contributing cause is the airports themselves. From short runways to nearby homes to common weather conditions and airport protocol to geography, some airports face several inhibiting factors for take-offs and landings.

Aspen is just one US airport to face inhibiting factors.  These dangerous airports in the US face the following challenges

• San Diego International Airport has the steepest descent angle in the US.
• Bob Hope Airport, Burbank has very short runways that offer no margin for error as well as competing air traffic for Van Nuys Airport, very little of which is under air traffic control.
• Chicago Midway International Airport has runways that 2,000 feet shorter than standard commercial airports which has caused many pilots to over-shoot the runway.

Watch Peter’s recent Travel Detective report to see the most dangerous airports in the US and around the world.