NATIONAL

TRANSPORTATION

SAFETY BOARD

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20594

ANNUAL REVIEW OF

7286

PB2000-108038

NTSB/ARG-00/01

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT DATA

U.S. GENERAL AVIATION

CALENDAR YEAR 1997

U.S. GENERAL AVIATION,

CALENDAR YEAR 1997

Annual Review of Aircraft Accident Data

NTSB/ARG-00/01

Notation 7286

National Transportation

Safety Board

Washington, D.C.

September 2000

iii General Aviation Accident Data

Contents

Highlights..........................................................................................................................................................1

General Aviation Accident Trends..........................................................................................................................1

Types of Aircraft ....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose of Flight ....................................................................................................................................................2

Amateur-Built Aircraft ...........................................................................................................................................2

Type of Flight.........................................................................................................................................................2

Weather Conditions................................................................................................................................................2

First Occurrence and Phase of Operation ................................................................................................................3

Causes of Accidents................................................................................................................................................3

Terminology Used in the Accident Data..................................................................................................5

Accident Data...................................................................................................................................................9

Historical View of General Aviation Accidents (Charts 1–3) ..................................................................................9

General (Charts 4–15)..........................................................................................................................................15

Aircraft Operations (Charts 16–18) ......................................................................................................................27

Accident Environment (Charts 19–23) .................................................................................................................31

Pilot Information (Charts 24–26)..........................................................................................................................39

Appendix (Charts 27–43) .................................................................................................................................45

1 General Aviation Accident Data

Highlights

A total of 1,870 U.S. registered general aviation aircraft were involved in 1,848 accidents1

during calendar year 1997. Of these 1,848 accidents, 351 accidents (involving 361 aircraft)

resulted in fatal injuries. This report presents a statistical review of these accidents, all involving

U.S. registered aircraft that were not conducting air carrier revenue operations under Title 14

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Parts 121 or 135.

The accident data on which this review is based were extracted from the Safety Board’s

automated Aviation Accident Data System. The Federal Aviation Administration’s Statistics and

Forecast Branch, Planning Analysis Division, Office of Aviation Policy and Plans publishes the

“General Aviation and Air Taxi Survey,” which is the source of flight hours used in this report. To

conduct its annual survey, the FAA mails questionnaires to owners of a statistically selected

sample of aircraft. An analysis of returned questionnaires enables the FAA to estimate hours of

aircraft usage by purpose and type aircraft.

General Aviation Accident Trends

General aviation accidents decreased by 3 percent from the 1,908 accidents reported in

calendar year 1996. Chart 1 shows a downward trend in the number of aircraft accidents since

1978. Commuter and air taxi operations (covered by 14 CFR Part 135) were first excluded in

1975 from general aviation accident statistics. The overall accident rate decreased from 1996 to

1997, from 7.67 to 7.26 accidents per 100,000 hours flown.

The number of persons killed increased to 640 (634 aircraft occupants) from the 632 who

were killed in 1996. The fatal accident rate (1.38 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown) was

lower than the 1.45 reported for 1996.

Type of Aircraft

Airplanes with a single piston engine accounted for 78 percent of general aviation

accidents in calendar year 1997. A total of 1,439 accidents, 262 fatal accidents, and 485 fatalities

resulted in an accident rate of 8.06 and a fatal accident rate of 1.47 per 100,000 hours flown in

this aircraft type.

 1

 A collision between aircraft is counted as one accident for the purpose of this report. There were 13 accidents

in which two general aviation aircraft collided in the air and 9 on the ground.
Highlights 2 General Aviation Accident Data

Piston-powered rotorcraft were involved in 87 accidents with an accident rate of 25.65

per 100,000 hours flown. These aircraft were involved in 9 fatal accidents (2.65 per 100,000

hours flown) with 11 fatalities. Turbine-powered rotorcraft were involved in 71 accidents (5.67

per 100,000 hours flown), 18 of which were fatal (1.44 per 100,000 hours flown) with 36

fatalities.

Purpose of Flight

Personal flying was involved in 1,131 accidents, 233 fatal accidents, and 432 fatalities.

Business flying accounted for 69 accidents, 20 fatal accidents, with 45 fatalities. Exposure data

(number of flying hours) do not reliably distinguish between personal and business flying;

consequently, individual accident rates cannot be calculated. The combined personal/business

accident rate was 9.48 accidents per 100,000 hours flown, and the combined fatal accident rate

was 1.99 per 100,000 hours flown. Aerial application operations accounted for 116 accidents

(7.43 per 100,000 hours flown), 16 fatal accidents (1.02 per 100,000 hours flown), and 17

fatalities. Instructional flying accounted for 270 accidents (5.45 accidents per 100,000 hours

flown), 22 fatal accidents (0.44 per 100,000 hours flown), and 38 fatalities.

Amateur-Built Aircraft

Information about amateur-built aircraft is included in this report to provide an insight into

their accident performance. In 1997, amateur-built aircraft accounted for 3 percent of the aircraft

hours flown in general aviation but made up 10 percent of the accidents. Chart 6 shows a 4

percent decrease in 1997 for general aviation accidents that involve amateur-built aircraft.

Type of Flight

Accident-involved aircraft were fairly evenly divided between local flights (49 percent)

and point-to-point flights (51 percent). Thirty-one percent of accident-involved pilots flying

point-to-point had filed flight plans.

Weather Conditions

More than 90 percent of accidents occur in visual meteorological conditions (VMC).

Accidents in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) are more serious than those in VMC—

69 percent of accidents in IMC resulted in fatalities, compared to 16 percent of accidents in

VMC.

The specific weather conditions cited most frequently in nonfatal accidents were

“crosswind,” “gusts,” and “tailwind.” “Low ceiling” and “fog” were the most frequently cited

weather factors in fatal accidents.
Highlights 3 General Aviation Accident Data

First Occurrence and

Phase of Operation

Safety Board investigations of aircraft accidents identify one or more occurrences that

describe the accident sequence of events. The first occurrence is the event that initiates the

accident sequence.

Collisions in-flight were the first occurrence in 33 percent of fatal accidents, and loss of

control in 28 percent. Partial or total loss of engine power was the first occurrence in 28 percent

of aircraft involved in all accidents. Collisions in-flight and on-ground were cited in 22 percent of

accidents, but less than 2 percent involved mid-air collisions. Loss of control, either in-flight (by

14 percent of the accident-involved pilots) or on the ground (by 12 percent of the pilots) was

another prevalent first occurrence.

Thirty-nine percent of accident-involved aircraft were on approach or landing, 21 percent

were taking off at the time of the first occurrence and 14 percent involved maneuvering. In fatal

accidents, the most frequently cited accident phases were maneuvering (25 percent), approach and

landing (15 percent), and cruise (29 percent).

Causes of Accidents

Safety Board investigations of aircraft accidents frequently cite multiple causes and

contributing factors; thus, the analysis of the probable cause often identifies the combined

influence of more than one factor.

Pilots were cited as either a cause or contributing factor in 75 percent of accidents and in

78 percent of fatal accidents. The environment (including weather, light, objects, and terrain

conditions) was cited in 42 percent of accident-involved aircraft and 38 percent of those in fatal

accidents. Environmental conditions are rarely cited as an accident cause. Forty-one percent of

environment citations are contributing factors. Aircraft was found to be a cause or contributing

factor in 31 percent of accidents and 21 percent in fatal accidents.

.

5 General Aviation Accident Data

Terminology Used in the Data

Aircraft Accident: The accidents included in this report are the occurrences associated with the

operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the

intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or

serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. The Safety Board’s definition

of substantial damage, as stated in 49 CFR 830.2 is:

Substantial damage means damage or failure which adversely affects the structural

strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would

normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component. Engine

failure or damage limited to an engine if only one engine fails or is damaged, bent

fairings or cowling, dented skin, small punctured holes in the skin of fabric, ground

damage to rotor or propeller blades, and damage to landing gear, wheels, tires,

flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wingtips are not considered “substantial

damage.”

Causes and Related Factors: In determining probable cause(s) of an accident, all facts,

conditions, and circumstances are considered. The objective is to ascertain the cause-and-effect

relationships in the accident sequence about which something can be done to prevent recurrence

of a similar accident. For statistical purposes, when two or more causes are cited in an accident,

each is recorded and no attempt is made to establish a primary cause. Therefore, in charts that

identify causes and related factors cited in accidents, the number of causes exceeds the total

number of accidents. The term “factor” is used, in general, to denote those elements of an

accident that further explain or supplement the probable cause(s). This provides a means for

collecting essential information that could not readily be categorized elsewhere in the system.

Collision Between Aircraft: An accident is classified as a collision only when both aircraft are

occupied. This classification includes collisions between two aircraft that are airborne (midair),

between an aircraft that is airborne and another that is on the ground, and between two aircraft

that are on the ground. A collision with a parked, unoccupied aircraft is classified under the

broad category “collision with object.”

Injury: Injury index refers to the highest degree of personal injury sustained as a result of the

accident. Serious injury refers to any injury that (1) requires hospitalization for more than 48

hours, commencing within 7 days from the date the injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of

any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve,

muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves injury to any internal organ; or (5) involves second- or

third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of body surface (49 CFR 830.2).

Fatal injury refers to any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident.
Terminology 6 General Aviation Accident Data

Purpose of Flight: The purpose for which the aircraft was being operated at the time of the

accident. In this report, accident data are presented for five purposes of flight:

Personal. Flying by individuals in their own or rented aircraft for pleasure, or for

personal transportation not in furtherance of their occupation or company

business. This category includes practice flying (for the purpose of increasing or

maintaining proficiency) not performed under supervision of an accredited

instructor, and not part of an approved flight training program.

Business. The use of aircraft by pilots (not receiving direct salary or compensation

for piloting) in connection with their occupation or in the furtherance of a private

business.

Corporate/Executive. The use of aircraft owned or leased, and operated by a

corporate or business firm for the transportation of personnel or cargo in

furtherance of the corporation’s or firm’s business, and that are flown by

professional pilots receiving a direct salary or compensation for piloting.

Aerial Application. The operation of aircraft for the purpose of dispensing any

substance for plant nourishment, soil treatment, propagation of plant life, pest

control, or fire control, including flying to and from the application site.

Instructional. Flying accomplished in supervised training under the direction of a

certificated instructor.

Phase of Operation: The phase of the flight or operation in which the first occurrence or

circumstance happened. If more than one occurrence is cited for a given phase of operation, that

phase is recorded for each occurrence.

Occurrence: The concept of sequence of events as a method of accident classification was

introduced in 1982 to describe the circumstances in an accident. A maximum of five occurrences

may be used. Typically each occurrence is further described by one or more “findings,” which,

when presented chronologically, depict the accident scenario from beginning to end. The findings

are developed by Safety Board analysts from a menu of words and phrases, and are the most

detailed means of classifying an accident. The findings are also used to describe the probable

cause of and related factors in an accident. The example below illustrates the relationship

between occurrences and findings.

Occurrence IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN

Phase of Operation LANDING – FLARE/TOUCHDOWN

Finding(s)

1. WHEELS UP LANDING – INADVERTENT – PILOT IN COMMAND

2. IMPROPER USE OF PROCEDURE, DIVERTED ATTENTION – PILOT IN COMMAND
Terminology 7 General Aviation Accident Data

Weather Condition: Weather condition is described as visual meteorological conditions

(VMC) or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and is expressed in terms of visibility,

distance from clouds, and ceilings in accordance with Part 91 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations.

9 General Aviation Accident Data

Historical View of

General Aviation

Accidents

Historical View of Accidents 11 General Aviation Accident Data

1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

Year of occurrence

Accidents

1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

Year of occurrence

Chart 1. Number of accidents (top) and accident rates (bottom), 1975 through

1997. (See Chart 27 in the appendix.)

Accident Rates
Historical View of Accidents 12 General Aviation Accident Data

1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Year of occurrence

Fatal Accidents

1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Year of occurrence

Fatal Accident Rates

Chart 2. Number of fatal accidents (top) and fatal accidents rates (bottom),

1975 through 1997. (See Chart 27 in the appendix.)
Historical View of Accidents 13 General Aviation Accident Data

1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Year of occurrence

Occupant Fatalities

1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Year of occurrence

Nonoccupant Fatalities

135 fatalities aboard PSA and 7 ground fatalities

64 fatalities aboard Aeromexico and

15 ground fatalities

Chart 3. Number of occupant fatalities (top) and nonoccupant fatalties (which

includes fatalities on the ground and fatalities that result from collision with nongeneral aviation aircraft)(bottom), 1975 to 1997. (See Chart 27 in the appendix.)

15 General Aviation Accident Data

General

General 17 General Aviation Accident Data

Balloons

Gliders

Rotorcraft - turbine

Rotorcraft - reciprocating

All rotorcraft

Airplanes - turbojet

Airplanes - turboprop

Airplanes - multiple reciprocating

Airplanes - single reciprocating

All airplanes

All operations

17

2

39 5

18 71

87 9

158 27

18

2

56 16

35 116

1,439 262

1,627 314

1,848 351

Total

Fatal

Accidents by Aircraft Type

Balloons

Gliders

Rotorcraft - turbine

Rotorcraft - reciprocating

All rotorcraft

Airplanes - turbojet

Airplanes - turboprop

Airplanes - multiple reciprocating

Airplanes - single reciprocating

All airplanes

All operations

34.90 4.11

30.50 3.91

1.44 5.67

25.65 2.65

9.92 1.7

1.13 0.13

1.29 4.51

1.92 6.36

1.47 8.06

1.4 7.23

1.38 7.26

Total rate

Fatal rate

Accident Rates by Aircraft Type

Chart 4. Number of accidents and fatal accidents (top),

accident rates and fatal rates per 100,000 aircraft hours flown

(bottom), 1997. (See Charts 28 through 37 in appendix.)
General 18 General Aviation Accident Data

Amateur-built aircraft accounted for 3% of the

aircraft hours flown in general aviation flying in 1997 . . . . . . . . but made up 10% of the accidents.

Hours flown Accidents

Amateur-built aircraft involved in accidents were

destroyed 50% more often than were

manufactured aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and p ilots were killed twice as often.

Destroyed aircraft

24%

36%

Fatally injured pilots

16%

32%

(Percentage of accident-involved aircraft

that were destroyed.)

(Percentage of accident-involved

pilots who were fatally injured.)

Chart 5. Highlights of amateur-built aircraft involved in accidents, 1997

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

6.0 5.6 6.1 7.4 5.9 6.6 7.2 7.6 7.4

9.1 9.0 9.2 10.2 10.1 9.7

Chart 6. The percentage of general aviation accidents that involved amateur-built aircraft, 1983

through 1997.

Amateur-Built Aircraft
General 19 General Aviation Accident Data

Fatal

Serious

Minor

Uninjured

Aircraft Occupant Injuries

(634)

(345)

(537)

(1,884)

Chart 7. Severity of injuries sustained by the

3,400 occupants of accident-involved aircraft,

1997.
General 20 General Aviation Accident Data

Type of Accident As First Occurrence, All

Chart 8. Number and percentage of accident-involved aircraft by type of accident as a

first occurrence, 1997.

Type of accident as a

first occurrence

Number of

aircraft

Percent of

aircraft

Collision, in-flight: (See Charts 12 and 13) 313 16.7

Midair collision between aircraft 28 1.5

Collision with object 148 7.9

Collision with terrain or water 110 5.9

Dragged wing, rotor, pod, float, or tail/skid 1 .1

Undershoot 26 1.4

Noncollision, in-flight: 438 23.4

Near collision between aircraft 0 0

Encounter with weather 66 3.5

Encounter with vortex turbulence 4 .2

Loss of control 254 13.6

Uncontrolled altitude deviation 5 .3

Abrupt maneuver 8 .4

Airframe, component, system failure, malfunction 96 5.1

Decompression 0 0

Ditching 1 .1

Forced landing 4 .2

Collision, on-ground or on-water: 94 5.0

Collision between aircraft 19 1.0

Collision with object 42 2.2

Encounter with terrain or water 26 1.4

Dragged wing, rotor, pod, float, or tail/skid 7 .4

Noncollision, on-ground or on-water: 400 21.4

Near collision between aircraft 0 0

Encounter with weather 6 .3

Loss of control 218 11.7

Nose down 0 0

Nose over 18 1.0

Rollover 3 .2

Propeller blast or jet exhaust/suction 2 .1

Propeller/rotor contact to person 2 .1

Hard landing 103 5.5

Overrun 48 2.6

Power-related accident: (See Charts 14 and 15) 537 28.7

Engine tearaway 0 0

Propeller failure or malfunction 5 .3

Rotor failure or malfunction 2 .1

(continued)
General 21 General Aviation Accident Data

Type of Accident As First Occurrence, All

Chart 8. Number and percentage of accident-involved aircraft by type of accident as a

first occurrence, 1997.

Type of accident as a

first occurrence

Number of

aircraft

Percent of

aircraft

(continued)

Loss of engine power— 166 8.9

Total loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 84 4.5

Partial loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 37 2.0

Total loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 202 10.8

Partial loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 41 2.2

Landing gear-related accident: 40 2.1

Gear collapsed 9 .5

Main gear collapsed 12 .6

Nose gear collapsed 7 .4

Tail gear collapsed 1 .1

Complete gear collapsed 0 0

Other gear collapsed 0 0

Gear not extended 0 0

Gear not retracted 0 0

Gear retraction on ground 2 .1

Wheels-up landing 9 .5

Wheels-down landing in water 0 0

Miscellaneous accident: 41 2.2

Cargo shift 2 .1

Fire 12 .6

Explosion 0 0

Fire/explosion 1 .1

Hazardous materials leak/spill (fumes/smoke) 0 0

Miscellaneous/other 26 1.4

First occurrence not determined: 7 .4

Undetermined 3 .2

Aircraft missing (not located or not recoverable) 4 .2

Number of aircraft 1,870 100.0
General 22 General Aviation Accident Data

Type of Accident As First Occurrence, Fatal

Chart 9. Number and percentage of fatal accident-involved aircraft by type of accident

as a first occurrence, 1997.

Type of fatal accident as a

first occurrence

Number of

aircraft

Percent of

aircraft

Collision, in-flight: (See Chart 11) 119 33.0

Midair collision between aircraft 21 5.8

Collision with object 44 12.2

Collision with terrain or water 52 14.4

Undershoot 2 .6

Noncollision, in-flight: 167 46.3

Encounter with weather 37 10.2

Loss of control 101 28.0

Abrupt maneuver 4 1.1

Airframe, component, system failure, malfunction 22 6.1

Forced landing 1 .3

Uncontrolled altitude deviation 2 .6

Noncollision, on-ground or on-water: 2 .6

Nose over 1 .3

Propeller/rotor contact to person 1 .3

Power-related accident: (See Chart 13) 60 16.6

Propeller failure or malfunction 1 .3

Rotor failure or malfunction 1 .3

Loss of engine power— 24 6.6

Total loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 6 1.7

Partial loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 2 .6

Total loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 21 5.8

Partial loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 5 1.4

Landing gear-related accident: 1 .3

Wheels up landing 1 .3

Miscellaneous accident: 6 1.7

Miscellaneous/other 6 1.7

First occurrence not determined: 6 1.7

Undetermined 2 .6

Aircraft missing (not located or not recoverable) 4 1.1

Number of aircraft 361 100.0
General 23 General Aviation Accident Data

Other phase

Standing

Taxi

Landing

Approach

Descent

Maneuvering

Cruise

Climb

Takeoff

20 19

15 3

55 0

488 9

233 46

42 8

254 89

311 105

60 20

392 62

Total

Fatal

Phase of Operation

Chart 10. A breakdown of the 1,870 and 361 fatal accident-involved aircraft

by first phase of operation, 1997.
General 24 General Aviation Accident Data

Other

Aircraft

Environment

Pilot

192

189.6

571

595.2

790

835.8

1,409

1,534

1997

1993-97 (mean)

General Causes or Contributing Factors in Accidents

Other

Aircraft

Environment

Pilot

48

46.2

75

83.4

136

150.8

283

328

1997

1993-97 (mean)

General Causes or Contributing Factors in Fatal Accidents

Chart 11. General causes or contributing factors cited for accident-involved

aircraft (top) and fatal accident-involved aircraft (bottom), 1997 and 1993

through 1997. (Multiple causes and factors may be cited in an accident.) In

1997, there were 1,870 accident-involved aircraft and 361 fatal accidentinvolved aircraft; for 1993 to 1997, the mean was 1,947 accident-involved

aircraft and 377 fatal accident-involved aircraft.
General 25 General Aviation Accident Data

In-Flight Collision as First Occurrence

Chart 12. Number of aircraft involved in a first occurrence in-flight collision,

by the object struck, 1997.

Object struck

Number of nonfatal and

fatal occurrences

Number of

fatal occurrences

Aircraft 28 21

Bird(s) 4 0

Fence 13 1

Hangar/airport building 1 0

Pole 4 2

Residence 3 2

Runway light 1 0

Sign 1 0

Terrain 137 54

Tower 4 3

Tree(s) 63 20

Utility pole 1 0

Vehicle 4 0

Wire(s) 54 15

Other phase

Maneuvering

Approach or landing

Cruise or descent

Takeoff or climb

9

9

89 39

102 22

48 39

65 10

Total

Fatal

Number by Phase of Operation

Chart 13. Aircraft involved in 313 total and 119 fatal

first occurrence in-flight collisions, 1997
General 26 General Aviation Accident Data

Unknown

Maneuvering

Approach or landing

Cruise or descent

Takeoff or climb

1

1

60

5

98 8

202

20

169

24

Total

Fatal

Phase of Operation, Loss of Engine Power

Undetermined

Aircraft

(Builder)

(Maintenance)

(Pilot)

Human performance

117 19

190 17

5

52 5

241 28

300 32

Total

Fatal

Causes or Contributing Factors, Loss of Engine Power

Chart 14. Causes or contributing factors in accident-involved aircraft with

loss of engine power as a first occurrence, 1997. (Multiple causes and

factors may be cited in an accident.)

Chart 15. First phase of operation for the 530 aircraft that exp erienced

loss of engine power, 1997.
27 General Aviation Accident Data

Aircraft

Operations

Aircraft Operations 29 General Aviation Accident Data

Instructional

Aerial application

Corporate/Executive

Personal and Business

270

22

116

16

12

3

1,199

252

Total

Fatal

Purpose of Flight

Instructional

Aerial application

Corporate/Executive

Personal and Business

5.45

0.44

7.43

1.02

0.42

0.10

9.48

1.99

Total rate

Fatal rate

Accident Rates by Purpose of Flight

Chart 16. Number of accidents and fatal accidents (top); accident rates

and fatal accident rates p er 100,000 aircraft hours flown (bottom), 1997.

(See Charts 37 through 42 in the appendix.) (Note that the accident rate is

presented as a combination of personal flying and business fly ing until

exposure data are available that divide flying hours between the two

categories.)
Aircraft Operations 30 General Aviation Accident Data

Local Point-to-Point

Type of Flight

(923) (947)

IFR (141)

VFR (154)

None (652)

Chart 17. Type of flight for the total 1,870 accident-involved aircraft,

and the type of flight plan filed for the 947 point-to-point flights, 1997.

Flight Plan Filed

At airport

Within 1 mile

1 to 5 miles

Beyond 5 miles

(8)

(427)

(405)

(83)

Local

At origin Enroute

At destination

Point-to-Point

Chart 18. Accident location for the 923 aircraft on a local flight and 947 on a pointto-point flight, 1997.

(209) (276)

(462)
31 General Aviation Accident Data

Accident

Environment

Accident Environment 33 General Aviation Accident Data

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Fatal

Nonfatal

Day of the Week

Chart 19. Number of accident-involved aircraft by the month (top) and day of

week (bottom) the accident occurred, 1997.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

0

50

100

150

200

250

Fatal

Nonfatal

Month of the Accident
Accident Environment 34 General Aviation Accident Data

Injuries to Onboard Occupants

Chart 20. Number of accident-involved aircraft and the injuries to onboard occupants by

location, 1997.

Number of accident-involved

aircraft

Number of injured occupants aboard

aircraft

Location Fatal accidents Total Fatally injured Seriously injured Totala

Alabama 4 16 6 4 43

Alaska 13 116 23 6 207

Arizona 10 69 18 12 119

Arkansas 8 39 10 11 63

California 39 175 67 32 314

Colorado 11 58 22 10 107

Connecticut 1 7 1 4 15

Delaware 0 3 0 0 5

Florida 25 132 47 31 227

Georgia 11 43 15 10 69

Hawaii 3 10 4 3 21

Idaho 7 28 15 5 52

Illinois 9 41 25 2 78

Indiana 9 35 12 12 66

Iowa 1 19 1 4 33

Kansas 3 29 6 3 56

Kentucky 1 9 2 1 20

Louisiana 8 27 8 7 41

Maine 1 6 4 2 10

Maryland 5 26 10 4 46

Massachusetts 5 20 7 8 36

Michigan 12 47 20 11 82

Minnesota 5 35 9 3 66

Mississippi 1 22 1 0 40

Missouri 6 30 12 8 60

Montana 7 28 17 1 56

Nebraska 2 14 4 1 20

Nevada 4 23 8 9 46

New Hampshire 2 9 3 3 13

New Jersey 6 31 10 5 48

New Mexico 7 37 13 10 75

New York 8 34 12 14 69

North Carolina 11 49 15 8 88

North Dakota 1 13 1 1 18

Ohio 8 43 12 8 70

(continued)
Accident Environment 35 General Aviation Accident Data

Injuries to Onboard Occupants

Chart 20. Number of accident-involved aircraft and the injuries to onboard occupants by

location, 1997.

Number of accident-involved

aircraft

Number of injured occupants aboard aircraft

Location Fatal accidents Total Fatally injured Seriously injured Totala

(continued)

Oklahoma 6 29 11 2 45

Oregon 14 52 21 16 97

Pennsylvania 12 54 16 5 107

Rhode Island 1 3 5 1 11

South Carolina 6 28 11 6 54

South Dakota 1 10 1 1 18

Tennessee 4 30 6 8 67

Texas 15 125 22 19 189

Utah 6 32 10 5 59

Vermont 0 4 0 1 6

Virginia 6 25 12 0 49

Washington 10 56 21 11 108

West Virginia 1 10 1 3 17

Wisconsin 6 31 9 3 46

Wyoming 1 11 1 1 15

Atlantic Ocean 0 3 0 0 9

Gulf of Mexico 0 1 0 0 1

Pacific Ocean 1 4 1 1 10

Canada 2 2 5 0 6

Mexico 3 6 8 1 13

Puerto Rico 1 5 3 1 15

Virgin Island 0 1 0 0 4

Other foreign 10 23 28 7 72

Unknown 1 2 2 0 3

Total 361 1,870 634 345 3,400

a The total number of occupants aboard the aircraft.
Accident Environment 36 General Aviation Accident Data

VMC

IMC

Not reported

VMC

IMC

Not reported

(118)

(1,746)

(6)

(276)

(81)

(4)

Accidents Fatal Accidents

Weather Conditions

Daylight

Dusk or dawn

Night

Not reported

(68)

(8)

(36)

(6)

Chart 21 . Accident and fatal accident flights flown in visual meteorological conditions

(VMC) and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

IMC

Daylight

Dusk or dawn Night

Not reported

(108)

(47)

(59)

(1,532)

VMC

Chart 22 . Accident-involved aircraft by weather and light conditions when the accident

occurred, 1997.
Accident Environment 37 General Aviation Accident Data

Weather as a Cause/Factor

Chart 23. Number of accident-involved aircraft in which weather was cited as a cause or

contributing factor, by weather condition, 1997.

Weather condition

Number in nonfatal

accidents

Number in fatal

accidents Total

Below approach/landing minimums 3 0 3

Carburetor icing conditions 20 4 24

Clouds 17 0 17

Crosswind 111 0 111

Downdraft 11 1 12

Drizzle 0 1 1

Dust devil/whirlwind 2 0 2

Fog 13 22 35

Freezing rain 1 0 1

Gusts 78 9 87

Haze/smoke 3 3 6

High density altitude 23 10 33

High wind 12 5 17

Icing conditions 7 4 11

Low ceiling 16 36 52

Mountain wave 0 2 2

No thermal lift 2 0 2

Obscuration 0 8 8

Rain 4 9 13

Snow 3 6 9

Sudden windshift 8 0 8

Tailwind 34 2 36

Temperature (high) 5 0 5

Thermal lift 1 0 1

Thunderstorm 0 3 3

Thunderstorm (outflow) 2 0 2

Turbulence 3 4 7

Turbulence in clouds 1 0 1

Turbulence (thunderstorms) 1 2 3

Turbulence (clear air) 1 0 1

(continued)
Accident Environment 38 General Aviation Accident Data

Weather as a Cause/Factor

Chart 23. Number of accident-involved aircraft in which weather was cited as a cause or

contributing factor, by weather condition, 1997.

Weather condition

Number in nonfatal

accidents

Number in fatal

accidents Total

(continued)

Turbulence (terrain induced) 3 2 5

Unfavorable wind 16 1 17

Variable wind 5 0 5

Windshear 1 0 1

Number involving weather 296 (20%) 87 (24%) 383 ( 20%)

Number of aircraft 1,509 361 1,870
39 General Aviation Accident Data

Pilot Information

Pilot Information 41 General Aviation Accident Data

Student

Commercial Private

ATP

Other

(58)

(143)

(843) (695)

(131)

Pilot Certificate

Non-rated Instrument rated

(752) (786)

Instrument Rating

(private and commercial)

Chart 24. The highest certificates held by the 1,870 accident-involved pilots and the

instrument ratings for 1,538 private and commercial certificate holders only. "Other"

includes none and unknown; ATP=airline transport pilot.
Pilot Information 42 General Aviation Accident Data

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1 10 100 1000 10000 100000

Hours

Time In Type Total Time

Flight Time

Chart 25. The total hours and hours in aircraft type for the 1,783 pilots

whose flight times were reported, 1997. (Note that the hours are graphed on a

logarithmic scale.
Pilot Information 43 General Aviation Accident Data

16-19 20-29 20-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ unk

0

100

200

300

400

500

Ages

26

205

324

481

439

237

102

56

Pilot Age - All Accidents

16-19 20-29 20-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ unk

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Ages

3

40 40

93 90

53

22 20

Pilot Age - All Fatal Accidents

Chart 26. Age group of the 1,870 accident-involved pilots (top) and 361 fatal

accident-involved pilots (bottom), 1997.
44 Aircraft Accident Data

By the National Transportation Safety Board

James E. Hall John A. Hammerschmidt

Chairman Member

John Goglia

Member

George W. Black, Jr.

Member

Carol J. Carmody

Member

Adopted: September 7, 2000
45 General Aviation Accident Data

Appendix

Appendix 47 General Aviation Accident Data

 All Operations

Chart 27. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, all operations, 1975 through

1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 3,995 633 1,252 1,231 28.799 13.87 (2) 2.19 (2)

1976 4,018 658 1,216 1,203 30.476 13.17 (4) 2.16 (1)

1977 4,079 661 1,276 1,265 31.578 12.91 (1) 2.09 (1)

1978 4,216 719 1,556 1,398 34.887 12.08 (2) 2.06 (2)

1979 3,818 631 1,221 1,203 38.641 9.88 1.63

1980 3,590 618 1,239 1,230 36.402 9.86 (1) 1.69 (1)

1981 3,500 654 1,282 1,261 36.803 9.51 1.78

1982 3,233 591 1,187 1,170 29.640 10.90 (3) 1.99

1983 3,077 556 1,069 1,062 28.673 10.73 (1) 1.94

1984 3,017 545 1,042 1,021 29.099 10.36 (3) 1.87 (2)

1985 2,739 498 956 945 28.322 9.66 (3) 1.75 (2)

1986 2,583 475 969 881 27.073 9.54 1.75

1987 2,495 447 838 823 26.972 9.25 (1) 1.65 (1)

1988 2,385 460 800 792 27.446 8.69 (1) 1.68

1989 2,233 431 768 765 27.920 7.98 (5) 1.53 (4)

1990 2,215 443 767 762 28.510 7.77 (1) 1.55

1991 2,175 433 786 772 27.678 7.85 (3) 1.56 (2)

1992 2,073 446 857 855 24.800 8.36 (1) 1.80 (1)

1993 2,039 398 736 732 22.796 8.94 (1) 1.74 (1)

1994 1,994 403 725 718 22.235 8.96 (2) 1.80 (2)

1995 2,053 412 734 727 24.906 8.23 (4) 1.64 (3)

1996 1,908 360 632 615 24.881 7.67 1.45

1997 1,848 351 640 634 25.464 7.26 1.38

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 48 General Aviation Accident Data

 All Airplanes

Chart 28. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, all airplanes, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 3,644 609 1,216 1,193 28.393 12.83 (1) 2.14 (1)

1976 3,695 624 1,168 1,154 29.202 12.64 (4) 2.13 (1)

1977 3,745 632 1,240 1,230 30.166 12.41 (1) 2.09 (1)

1978 3,850 670 1,487 1,335 33.162 11.60 (2) 2.01 (2)

1979 3,477 592 1,155 1,142 36.760 9.46 1.61

1980 3,233 569 1,168 1,162 34.145 9.47 (1) 1.66 (1)

1981 3,161 610 1,208 1,190 34.113 9.27 1.79

1982 2,886 540 1,106 1,095 27.780 10.38 (2) 1.94

1983 2,735 505 997 992 26.709 10.24 (1) 1.89

1984 2,703 498 972 953 27.297 9.89 (3) 1.82 (2)

1985 2,466 455 897 888 26.364 9.34 (3) 1.72 (2)

1986 2,302 428 905 809 25.149 9.15 1.70

1987 2,249 411 786 770 25.306 8.89 (1) 1.62 (1)

1988 2,131 427 760 752 25.069 8.50 (1) 1.70

1989 2,000 397 719 715 25.855 7.72 (5) 1.52 (4)

1990 1,955 408 725 721 26.606 7.34 (1) 1.53

1991 1,945 395 729 722 25.091 7.74 (3) 1.57 (2)

1992 1,833 395 774 772 22.733 8.06 (1) 1.73 (1)

1993 1,827 364 679 674 20.414 8.94 (1) 1.78 (1)

1994 1,739 354 651 645 19.648 8.85 (1) 1.80 (1)

1995 1,840 382 688 681 21.930 8.38 (3) 1.73 (3)

1996 1,681 323 578 562 21.833 7.70 1.48

1997 1,627 314 582 578 22.505 7.23 1.40

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 49 General Aviation Accident Data

 Airplanes With A Single Reciprocating Engine

Chart 29. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, airplanes with a single

reciprocating engine, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 3,305 514 972 949 22.881 14.44 (1) 2.24 (1)

1976 3,319 510 899 887 23.442 14.15 (2) 2.17 (1)

1977 3,383 542 996 987 23.798 14.21 (1) 2.27 (1)

1978 3,440 544 1,150 997 26.556 12.95 (2) 2.04 (2)

1979 3,071 471 869 856 29.128 10.54 1.62

1980 2,854 459 876 864 26.876 10.62 (1) 1.70 (1)

1981 2,819 496 918 906 26.347 10.70 1.88

1982 2,459 456 863 848 21.412 11.48 (1) 2.13

1983 2,448 421 780 772 20.470 11.95 (1) 2.06

1984 2,395 406 767 750 20.988 11.40 (3) 1.92 (2)

1985 2,180 368 677 667 20.317 10.72 (2) 1.81 (1)

1986 2,062 360 717 627 19.333 10.66 1.86

1987 2,016 347 631 613 19.635 10.26 (1) 1.76 (1)

1988 1,941 346 597 592 19.607 9.89 (1) 1.76

1989 1,813 339 592 586 19.867 9.11 (4) 1.69 (4)

1990 1,756 351 599 594 21.310 8.24 (1) 1.65

1991 1,749 329 568 561 20.187 8.65 (3) 1.62 (2)

1992 1,628 324 565 559 18.238 8.92 (1) 1.77 (1)

1993 1,613 301 514 504 16.264 9.91 (1) 1.84 (1)

1994 1,540 281 494 491 15.576 9.88 (1) 1.80 (1)

1995 1,602 297 493 489 17.461 9.16(3) 1.68 (3)

1996 1,493 259 421 416 17.219 8.67 1.50

1997 1,439 262 485 481 17.847 8.06 1.47

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 50 General Aviation Accident Data

Airplanes with Multiple Reciprocating Engines

Chart 30. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, airplanes with multiple

reciprocating engines, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 312 84 208 208 3.918 7.96 2.14

1976 346 103 238 231 4.085 8.42 (2) 2.52

1977 324 73 173 166 4.320 7.50 1.69

1978 367 112 295 292 4.496 8.16 2.49

1979 358 108 258 247 5.098 7.02 2.12

1980 330 99 262 256 4.491 7.35 2.20

1981 289 94 220 218 4.833 5.98 1.94

1982 343 88 254 247 3.709 9.22 (1) 2.37

1983 245 74 193 188 3.533 6.94 2.09

1984 260 76 168 166 3.552 7.32 2.14

1985 231 68 164 160 3.362 6.84 (1) 1.99 (1)

1986 190 54 122 121 3.230 5.88 1.67

1987 196 51 124 118 3.124 6.27 1.63

1988 162 67 134 129 2.780 5.83 2.41

1989 146 43 92 91 3.030 4.75 (1) 1.39

1990 144 35 78 77 2.812 5.12 1.24

1991 156 49 110 108 2.897 5.39 1.69

1992 141 49 130 130 2.405 5.86 2.04

1993 161 46 115 114 2.049 7.86 2.25

1994 138 55 125 122 1.990 6.93 2.76

1995 177 66 161 159 1.912 9.26 3.45

1996 123 40 91 87 1.875 6.56 2.13

1997 116 35 71 71 1.825 6.36 1.92

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 51 General Aviation Accident Data

Turboprop Airplanes

Chart 31. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, turboprop airplanes, 1975

through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flown

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 16 10 35 35 0.900 1.78 1.11

1976 22 8 19 18 0.901 2.44 0.89

1977 29 14 61 59 1.093 2.65 1.28

1978 28 11 32 31 1.056 2.65 1.04

1979 42 14 31 30 1.375 3.05 1.02

1980 41 11 38 35 1.524 2.69 0.72

1981 49 17 61 48 1.606 3.05 1.06

1982 37 9 37 33 1.396 2.65 0.64

1983 33 11 27 26 1.345 2.45 0.82

1984 38 11 22 22 1.556 2.44 0.71

1985 46 17 55 51 1.310 3.51 1.30

1986 31 12 57 51 1.242 2.50 0.97

1987 33 10 28 27 1.300 2.54 0.77

1988 24 10 19 19 1.311 1.83 0.76

1989 35 15 37 34 1.638 2.14 0.92

1990 38 13 29 28 1.226 3.10 1.06

1991 35 11 22 21 0.944 3.71 1.16

1992 55 20 74 72 1.117 4.92 1.79

1993 48 16 46 45 1.030 4.66 1.55

1994 45 13 25 25 0.920 4.89 1.41

1995 46 14 19 18 1.226 3.75 1.14

1996 50 19 54 41 1.382 3.62 1.37

1997 56 16 23 21 1.241 4.51 1.29
Appendix 52 General Aviation Accident Data

Turbojet Airplanes

Chart 32. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, turbojet airplanes, 1975 through

1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flown

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 13 1 1 1 0.687 1.89 0.15

1976 13 5 19 18 0.752 1.73 0.66

1977 13 5 18 18 0.943 1.38 0.53

1978 20 5 17 15 1.061 1.89 0.47

1979 13 3 9 9 1.120 1.16 0.27

1980 12 3 7 7 1.244 0.96 0.24

1981 7 4 17 17 1.318 0.53 0.30

1982 9 1 4 4 1.242 0.72 0.08

1983 13 3 8 6 1.338 0.97 0.22

1984 13 5 15 15 1.200 1.08 0.42

1985 16 5 15 10 1.375 1.16 0.36

1986 13 3 10 10 1.344 0.97 0.22

1987 10 6 12 12 1.248 0.80 0.48

1988 8 5 12 12 1.371 0.58 0.36

1989 9 2 4 4 1.320 0.68 0.15

1990 18 10 22 22 1.259 1.43 0.79

1991 10 7 32 32 1.063 0.94 0.66

1992 11 3 11 11 1.030 1.07 0.29

1993 9 3 11 11 1.070 0.84 0.28

1994 16 5 7 7 1.162 1.38 0.43

1995 19 5 15 15 1.331 1.43 0.38

1996 17 5 18 18 1.361 1.25 0.44

1997 18 2 5 5 1.592 1.13 0.13
Appendix 53 General Aviation Accident Data

All Rotorcraft

Chart 33. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, all rotorcraft, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 264 18 30 28 0.974 27.10 1.85

1976 248 25 38 38 1.103 22.48 2.27

1977 246 22 28 25 1.170 21.03 1.88

1978 283 39 56 48 1.397 20.26 2.79

1979 265 33 56 51 1.522 17.41 2.17

1980 261 40 60 57 1.891 13.80 2.12

1981 257 30 55 52 2.303 11.16 1.30

1982 255 41 66 62 1.500 16.93 (1) 2.73

1983 234 35 55 53 1.575 14.86 2.22

1984 224 38 61 59 1.474 15.20 2.58

1985 205 36 50 47 1.576 13.01 2.28

1986 190 39 81 59 1.560 12.18 2.50

1987 180 29 45 45 1.282 14.05 2.26

1988 180 21 27 27 1.809 9.95 1.16

1989 187 30 44 41 1.693 11.05 1.77

1990 194 25 28 27 1.573 12.33 1.59

1991 170 30 51 44 2.126 8.00 1.41

1992 178 41 72 72 1.641 10.85 2.50

1993 162 33 53 50 1.419 11.42 2.33

1994 190 43 67 65 1.516 12.54 2.84

1995 152 23 38 38 1.637 9.23 (1) 1.40

1996 168 29 44 43 1.733 9.69 1.67

1997 158 27 47 46 1.592 9.92 1.70

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 54 General Aviation Accident Data

Rotorcraft with Reciprocating Engine(s)

Chart 34. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, rotorcraft with reciprocating

engine(s), 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 217 12 16 16 0.623 34.83 1.93

1976 209 17 24 24 0.680 30.74 2.50

1977 190 14 17 17 0.571 33.27 2.45

1978 223 28 40 33 0.766 29.11 3.66

1979 185 20 30 25 0.859 21.54 2.33

1980 181 22 25 24 0.719 25.17 3.06

1981 178 21 32 29 0.878 20.27 2.39

1982 157 20 24 24 0.525 29.72 (1) 3.81

1983 139 18 22 22 0.522 26.65 3.45

1984 128 22 29 28 0.532 24.04 4.13

1985 118 12 14 13 0.514 22.94 2.33

1986 118 21 24 22 0.728 16.20 2.88

1987 118 19 26 26 0.597 19.77 3.18

1988 118 17 21 21 0.527 22.38 3.22

1989 121 14 18 17 0.673 17.97 2.08

1990 134 16 19 19 0.715 18.74 2.24

1991 125 19 23 23 0.591 21.15 3.21

1992 120 22 31 31 0.405 29.60 5.43

1993 102 19 30 27 0.357 28.55 5.32

1994 106 21 26 25 0.331 32.03 6.35

1995 87 8 11 11 0.331 26.31 2.42

1996 79 14 19 19 0.571 13.84 2.45

1997 87 9 11 11 0.339 25.65 2.65

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 55 General Aviation Accident Data

Rotorcraft with Turbine Engine(s)

Chart 35. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, rotorcraft with turbine engine(s),

1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 47 6 14 12 0.351 13.39 1.71

1976 39 8 14 14 0.423 9.22 1.89

1977 56 8 11 8 0.599 9.35 1.34

1978 60 11 16 15 0.631 9.51 1.74

1979 80 13 26 26 0.663 12.07 1.96

1980 80 18 35 33 1.172 6.83 1.54

1981 79 9 23 23 1.424 5.55 0.63

1982 98 21 42 38 0.978 10.02 2.15

1983 95 17 33 31 1.053 9.02 1.61

1984 96 16 32 31 0.941 10.20 1.70

1985 87 24 36 34 1.062 8.19 2.26

1986 72 18 57 37 0.832 8.66 2.16

1987 62 10 19 19 0.684 9.06 1.46

1988 62 4 6 6 1.282 4.84 0.31

1989 66 16 26 24 1.000 6.60 1.60

1990 61 9 9 8 0.858 7.11 1.05

1991 45 11 28 21 1.535 2.93 0.72

1992 58 19 41 41 1.236 4.69 1.54

1993 60 14 23 23 1.062 5.65 1.32

1994 84 22 41 40 1.184 7.09 1.86

1995 65 15 27 27 1.306 4.90 (1) 1.15

1996 89 15 25 24 1.163 7.65 1.29

1997 71 18 36 35 1.253 5.67 1.44

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 56 General Aviation Accident Data

Gliders

Chart 36. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, gliders, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flown

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 82 7 11 9 — — —

1976 64 8 9 8 — — —

1977 78 7 8 8 — — —

1978 66 10 14 10 — — —

1979 55 3 3 3 — — —

1980 62 7 7 7 — — —

1981 59 12 13 13 — — —

1982 51 6 6 5 — — —

1983 69 11 11 11 — — —

1984 54 10 10 9 — — —

1985 43 5 6 6 — — —

1986 68 9 10 10 — — —

1987 36 4 4 4 — — —

1988 45 12 13 13 — — —

1989 26 3 3 3 — — —

1990 40 5 5 5 — — —

1991 42 5 5 5 — — —

1992 44 8 8 8 — — —

1993 28 0 0 0 0.142 1.97 .00

1994 38 5 5 5 0.245 15.53 2.04

1995 36 2 2 2 0.151 23.91 1.33

1996 39 7 8 6 0.147 26.57 4.77

1997 39 5 5 5 0.128 30.50 3.91

— Data not available.
Appendix 57 General Aviation Accident Data

Balloons

Chart 37. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, balloons, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flown

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 8 1 1 1 — — —

1976 13 3 6 6 — — —

1977 12 1 2 2 — — —

1978 19 1 3 3 — — —

1979 21 3 7 7 — — —

1980 34 2 4 4 — — —

1981 23 2 6 6 — — —

1982 29 2 7 7 — — —

1983 29 2 3 3 — — —

1984 33 0 0 0 — — —

1985 24 1 1 1 — — —

1986 23 1 2 2 — — —

1987 27 3 3 3 — — —

1988 25 0 0 0 — — —

1989 21 3 6 6 — — —

1990 26 4 8 8 — — —

1991 16 2 2 0 — — —

1992 15 2 3 3 — — —

1993 21 2 8 8 0.106 19.86 1.89

1994 19 0 0 0 0.979 19.40 .00

1995 20 2 3 3 0.750 26.67 2.67

1996 22 1 2 2 0.680 32.37 1.47

1997 17 2 2 1 0.487 34.90 4.11

— Data not available.
Appendix 58 General Aviation Accident Data

Personal and Business Flying

Chart 38. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, personal and business flying,

1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 2,545 478 995 981 15.832 16.06 (2) 3.01 (2)

1976 2,629 490 950 933 16.850 15.58 (3) 2.90 (1)

1977 2,579 487 973 963 16.727 15.42 2.91

1978 2,656 522 1,066 1,055 19.322 13.74 (2) 2.69 (2)

1979 2,461 470 932 917 20.638 11.92 2.28

1980 2,285 450 924 915 19.374 11.79 (1) 2.32 (1)

1981 2,220 456 892 883 18.323 12.12 2.49

1982 2,194 471 979 965 13.850 15.84 3.40

1983 2,165 450 889 884 13.299 16.28 3.38

1984 2,158 442 870 865 13.863 15.54 (3) 3.17 (2)

1985 2,001 391 762 751 13.783 14.50 (2) 2.83 (1)

1986 1,835 388 823 724 14.768 12.42 2.62

1987 1,772 351 669 665 15.237 11.62 (1) 2.30 (1)

1988 1,678 373 673 665 14.609 11.49 2.55

1989 1,514 315 595 586 13.867 10.89 (4) 2.24 (4)

1990 1,502 330 577 570 13.691 10.96 (1) 2.41

1991 1,499 339 617 613 13.727 10.92 2.47

1992 1,449 350 661 655 12.165 11.90 (1) 2.87 (1)

1993 1,386 287 536 530 11.552 11.99 (1) 2.48 (1)

1994 1,297 288 534 523 11.260 11.51 (1) 2.55 (1)

1995 1,381 309 556 548 12.994 10.60 (3) 2.35 (3)

1996 1,271 265 457 437 12.300 10.34 2.16

1997 1,199 252 474 468 12.650 9.48 1.99

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the

total and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 59 General Aviation Accident Data

Personal Flying

Chart 39. Number of accidents and fatalities,

personal flying, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

1975 2,228 414 875 861

1976 2,334 428 844 829

1977 2,280 437 889 874

1978 2,376 460 957 946

1979 2,206 414 820 807

1980 2,040 389 808 799

1981 1,958 383 749 738

1982 1,906 398 826 809

1983 1,892 398 775 770

1984 1,909 365 711 704

1985 1,741 327 642 635

1986 1,641 329 684 591

1987 1,590 303 566 564

1988 1,507 324 585 577

1989 1,366 274 509 501

1990 1,354 290 492 497

1991 1,353 292 536 532

1992 1,352 322 609 603

1993 1,274 258 476 466

1994 1,185 258 474 463

1995 1,284 278 488 476

1996 1,179 246 413 405

1997 1,131 233 432 424
Appendix 60 General Aviation Accident Data

Business

Chart 40. Number of accidents and fatalities,

business flying, 1975 through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

1975 318 64 120 120

1976 298 62 106 104

1977 302 53 95 89

1978 281 62 109 109

1979 255 56 112 110

1980 246 62 126 116

1981 264 74 145 145

1982 292 74 157 156

1983 276 52 114 114

1984 251 78 161 161

1985 261 64 120 116

1986 194 59 139 133

1987 184 49 107 101

1988 172 49 88 88

1989 149 42 90 85

1990 149 40 80 78

1991 146 47 81 81

1992 97 28 52 52

1993 115 30 65 64

1994 114 30 60 60

1995 99 32 73 72

1996 93 19 44 32

1997 69 20 45 44
Appendix 61 General Aviation Accident Data

Corporate/Executive Flying

Chart 41. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, corporate/executive flying, 1975

through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flown

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 63 17 44 44 3.262 1.93 0.52

1976 56 14 42 38 3.396 1.65 0.41

1977 59 18 51 49 3.501 1.69 0.51

1978 88 24 70 67 4.898 1.80 0.49

1979 78 15 57 51 5.022 1.55 0.30

1980 96 21 66 63 5.351 1.79 0.39

1981 84 30 99 99 6.209 1.35 0.48

1982 39 6 21 20 4.589 0.85 0.13

1983 39 6 23 23 4.829 0.81 0.12

1984 25 4 8 8 4.396 0.57 0.09

1985 37 13 37 32 3.856 0.96 0.34

1986 20 3 11 11 3.491 0.57 0.09

1987 19 4 10 7 3.143 0.60 0.13

1988 10 2 3 3 3.472 0.29 0.06

1989 11 4 15 15 3.453 0.32 0.12

1990 14 5 21 21 2.913 0.48 0.17

1991 12 5 24 19 2.486 0.48 0.20

1992 15 4 13 12 2.251 0.67 0.18

1993 15 4 13 13 2.635 0.57 0.15

1994 8 3 5 5 2.486 0.32 0.12

1995 15 5 15 15 3.069 0.49 0.16

1996 8 5 20 20 2.898 0.28 0.17

1997 12 3 3 2 2.878 0.42 0.10
Appendix 62 General Aviation Accident Data

Aerial Application Flying

Chart 42. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, aerial application flying, 1975

through 1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 432 34 35 35 1.876 23.03 1.81

1976 434 40 44 42 2.136 20.27 (1) 1.87

1977 455 31 35 34 2.072 21.96 1.50

1978 457 28 28 27 2.082 21.95 1.34

1979 395 27 27 25 2.393 16.51 1.13

1980 363 25 32 28 2.063 17.60 1.21

1981 378 30 36 34 2.466 15.33 1.22

1982 272 17 18 15 1.882 14.45 0.90

1983 254 15 15 15 1.623 15.65 0.92

1984 245 20 21 20 1.849 13.25 1.08

1985 167 9 9 9 2.002 8.34 0.45

1986 193 19 22 20 1.833 10.53 1.04

1987 175 11 11 10 1.539 11.37 0.71

1988 170 12 13 13 1.842 9.23 0.65

1989 157 24 25 24 1.868 8.40 1.28

1990 152 16 17 17 1.872 8.12 0.85

1991 158 13 13 12 1.935 8.17 0.67

1992 142 9 9 9 1.370 10.36 0.66

1993 142 14 14 14 1.283 11.07 1.09

1994 153 17 17 17 1.364 11.22 1.25

1995 153 15 15 14 1.526 10.26 0.98

1996 134 10 10 9 1.713 7.82 0.58

1997 116 16 17 17 1.562 7.43 1.02

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the total

and fatal accident rates.
Appendix 63 General Aviation Accident Data

Instructional Flying

Chart 43. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, instructional flying, 1975 through

1997.

Number of fatalities

Accident rate per 100,000

aircraft hours flowna

Year

Number of

accidents

Number of

fatal accidents

All

fatalities

Aircraft

occupants

Aircraft hours

flown (millions)

All

accidents

Fatal

accidents

1975 587 43 77 60 5.882 9.98 0.73

1976 541 55 97 87 6.102 8.87 0.90

1977 572 48 68 64 7.646 7.48 0.63

1978 604 62 243 92 6.322 9.55 0.98

1979 516 39 59 51 8.144 6.34 0.48

1980 461 41 73 70 7.315 6.30 0.56

1981 428 40 70 63 7.104 6.02 0.56

1982 411 22 38 36 4.535 9.04 (1) 0.49

1983 379 26 41 40 4.482 8.46 0.58

1984 354 25 54 37 4.193 8.44 0.60

1985 314 27 52 40 3.938 7.97 0.69

1986 317 23 41 37 4.319 7.34 0.53

1987 342 33 72 61 4.529 7.55 0.73

1988 336 32 49 47 4.917 6.81 (1) 0.65

1989 306 28 50 43 5.993 5.11 0.47

1990 315 33 62 56 7.243 4.35 0.46

1991 339 31 63 52 6.160 5.50 0.50

1992 271 29 49 46 5.485 4.94 0.53

1993 286 27 50 48 4.626 6.18 0.58

1994 301 23 47 39 4.382 6.87 0.52

1995 268 23 44 40 4.410 6.08 0.52

1996 246 18 40 36 4.759 5.17 0.38

1997 270 22 38 38 4.956 5.45 0.44

a The numbers in parentheses are the number of accidents that involved suicide or sabotage, which are excluded from the total

and fatal accident rates.