Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

The Part 91 general aviation (GA) fatal accident rate in 2016 fell below one per 100,000 flight hours for the first time in half a century, although the number of allaccidents—and total fatalities—increased slightly over 2015, according to newly released statistics from the NTSB.

 


Last year, the GA fatal accident rate was 0.989 per 100,000 flight hours versus 1.098 in 2015. However, the number of all accidents increased from 1,210 in 2015 to 1,266 last year. And while 378 people lost their lives in 230 fatal crashes in 2015, there were 386 fatalities from 213 such crashes last year.

 


Fatal accidents under Part 135 on-demand air taxis involving both piston and turbine airplanes remained at seven in both 2016 and 2015, but the number of fatalities dropped from 27 in 2015 to 19 last year. Nevertheless, the fatal accident rate increased slightly—from 0.196 in 2015 to 0.200 in 2016, because the annual amount of hours flown in the Part 135 segment decreased in 2016 compared with 2015.

 


Looking at just Part 91 business jet operations, four died in one accident in 2015 versus eight people in two accidents last year. Part 135 on-demand jets recorded no fatal accidents last year, compared with nine killed in one accident in 2015.

 


Fourteen were killed in four Part 91 turboprop accidents last year, compared with 19 in nine crashes in 2015. Turboprops operating under Part 135 suffered four accidents involving 12 fatalities last year, versus nine who died in one accident in 2015.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

NTSB: Genav Accident Rate Falls To Record Low

Last year, the GA fatal accident rate was 0.989 per 100,000 flight hours versus 1.098 in 2015. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In Accidents

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

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Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

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Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

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Captain opted out of instrument approach over autopilot concerns

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Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure

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