F PB99-144230

NTSB/ARG-99/01

NATIONAL

TRANSPORTATION

SAFETY

BOARD

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20594

ANNUAL REVIEW OF

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT DATA

U.S. GENERAL AVIATION

CALENDAR YEAR 1996

7146

U.S. GENERAL AVIATION,

CALENDAR YEAR 1996

Annual Review of Aircraft Accident Data

NTSB/ARG-99/01

Notation 7146

National Transportation

Safety Board

Washington, D.C.

May 1999

Contents iii Aircraft 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

Highlights 1 Aircraft Accident Data

Highlights

A total of 1,935 U.S. registered general aviation aircraft were involved in 1,907

accidents1

 during calendar year 1996. Of these 1,907 accidents, 360 accidents (involving 366

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 7 percent from the 2,053 accidents reported in

calendar year 1995. Chart 1 shows an apparent leveling off of the downward trend in the number

of aircraft accidents since 1975, when commuter and air taxi operations (covered by 14 CFR Part

135) were first excluded from general aviation accident statistics. The overall accident rate

decreased from 1995 to 1996, from 8.23 to 7.66 accidents per 100,000 hours flown.

The number of persons killed decreased to 632 (615 aircraft occupants) from the 734 who

were killed in 1995. The fatal accident rate (1.45 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown) was

lower than the 1.64 reported for 1995.

Type of Aircraft

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

accidents in calendar year 1996. A total of 1,493 accidents, 259 fatal accidents, and 421 fatalities

resulted in an accident rate of 8.67 and a fatal accident rate of 1.50 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 17 accidents

in which two general aviation aircraft collided in the air and 11 on the ground.
Highlights 2 Aircraft Accident Data

Piston-powered rotorcraft experienced a 21-year low of 79 accidents with an accident rate

of 13.84 per 100,000 hours flown. These aircraft were involved in 14 fatal accidents (2.45 per

100,000 hours flown) with 19 fatalities. Turbine-powered rotorcraft were involved in 89

accidents (7.65 per 100,000 hours flown), 15 of which were fatal (1.29 per 100,000 hours flown)

with 25 fatalities.

Purpose of Flight

Personal flying was involved in 1,179 accidents, 246 fatal accidents, and 413 fatalities.

Business flying accounted for 93 accidents, 19 fatal accidents, with 44 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 10.34 accidents per 100,000 hours flown, and the combined fatal accident rate

was 2.16 per 100,000 hours flown. Aerial application operations accounted for 134 accidents

(7.82 per 100,000 hours flown), 10 fatal accidents (0.58 per 100,000 hours flown), and 10

fatalities. Instructional flying accounted for 246 accidents (5.17 accidents per 100,000 hours

flown), 18 fatal accidents (0.38 per 100,000 hours flown), and 40 fatalities.

Amateur-Built Aircraft

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

into their accident performance. In 1996, amateur-built aircraft accounted for 2 percent of the

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

that an increasing percentage of general aviation accidents involve amateur-built aircraft.

Type of Flight

Accident-involved aircraft were fairly evenly divided between local flights (47 percent) and

point-to-point flights (53 percent). Fewer than 28 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 generally much more serious than

those in VMC—63 percent of accidents in IMC resulted in fatalities, compared to 15 percent of

accidents in VMC.

The specific weather conditions cited most frequently in nonfatal accidents were

“crosswind,” “gusts,” and “tailwind.” “Low ceiling,” “fog,” “clouds,” and “icing conditions”

were the most cited weather factors in fatal accidents.
Highlights 3 Aircraft 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 more than 25 percent of fatal accidents,

and loss of control in 31 percent. Partial or total loss of engine power was the first occurrence in

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

21 percent of accidents, but only 2 percent involved mid-air collisions. Loss of control, either inflight (by 13 percent of the accident-involved pilots) or on the ground (by 11 percent of the

pilots) was another prevalent first occurrence.

Thirty-nine percent of accident-involved aircraft were on approach or landing, and 19

percent were taking off at the time of the first occurrence. In fatal accidents, the most frequently

cited accident phases were maneuvering (27 percent), approach and landing (18 percent), and

cruise (30 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 77 percent of accidents and 83

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

conditions) was cited for 45 percent of accident-involved aircraft and 40 percent of those in fatal

accidents. Environmental conditions are rarely cited as an accident cause. More than 96 percent

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

contributing factor in 32 percent of accidents and 30 percent in fatal accidents.

.

Terminology Aircraft Accident Data 5

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 Aircraft Accident Review 6

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 Aircraft Accident Data 7

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.

Historical View of Accidents Aircraft Accident Data 9

Historical View of

General Aviation

Accidents

Historical View of Accidents Aircraft Accident Data 11

1975 1982 1989 1996

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

Year of occurrence

Accidents

1975 1982 1989 1996

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

1996. (See Chart 27 in the appendix.)

Accident Rates
Historical View of Accidents Aircraft Accident Data 12

1975 1982 1989 1996

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Year of occurrence

Fatal Accidents

1975 1982 1989 1996

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 accident rates (bottom),

1975 through 1996. (See Chart 27 in the appendix.)
Historical View of Accidents Aircraft Accident Data 13

1975 1982 1989 1996

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

Year of occurrence

Occupant Fatalities

1975 1982 1989 1996

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Year of occurrence

135 fatalities aboard PSA and 7 ground fatalities

64 fatalities aboard Aeromexico and

15 ground fatalities

Nonoccupant Fatalities

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

(which includes fatalities on the ground and fatalities that result from

collision with non-general aviation aircraft) (bottom), 1975 to 1996. (See Chart

27 in the appendix.)

General 15 Aircraft Accident Data

General

General 17 Aircraft Accident Data

Balloons

Gliders

Rotorcraft - turbine

Rotorcraft - reciprocating

All rotorcraft

Airplanes - turbojet

Airplanes - turboprop

Airplanes - multiple reciprocating

Airplanes - single reciprocating

All airplanes

All operations

22 1

39

7

89 15

79

14

168 29

17

6

50 19

123 40

259 1,493

323 1,681

360 1,907

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

1.47 32.37

26.57 4.77

7.65 1.29

13.84 2.45

1.67 9.69

1.25 0.44

3.62 1.37

2.13 6.56

8.67 1.50

7.70 1.48

7.66 1.45

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), 1996. (See Charts 28 through 37 in the app endix.)
General 18 Aircraft Accident Data

Hours flown Accidents

Amateur-Built Aircraft

Amateur-built aircraft accounted for 2% of the

aircraft hours flown in general aviation flying in 1996. . . . . . . . . but made up 10% of the accidents.

23%

35%

Amateur-built aircraft involved in accidents were

destroyed 52% more often than were

manufactured aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and pilots were killed 69% more often.

Destroyed aircraft

16%

27%

Fatally injured pilots

(Percentage of accident-involved aircraft

that were destroyed.)

(Percentage of accident-involved

pilots who were fatally injured.)

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

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

Chart 5. Highlights regarding amateur-built aircraft involved in accidents, 1996.

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

through 1996.
General 19 Aircraft Accident Data

Fatal

Serious

Minor

Uninjured

(1,924)

(615)

(356)

(521)

Aircraft Occupant Injuries

Chart 7. Severity of injuries sustained by the

3,416 occupants of accident-involved aircraft,

1996.
General 20 Aircraft 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, 1996.

Type of accident as a

first occurrence

Number of

aircraft

Percent of

aircraft

Collision, in-flight: (See Charts 12 and 13) 314 16.2

Midair collision between aircraft 35 1.8

Collision with object 141 7.3

Collision with terrain or water 105 5.4

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

Undershoot 26 1.3

Noncollision, in-flight: 466 24.1

Near collision between aircraft 0 0

Encounter with weather 87 4.5

Encounter with vortex turbulence 3 .2

Loss of control 255 13.2

Uncontrolled altitude deviation 2 .1

Abrupt maneuver 8 .4

Airframe, component, system failure, malfunction 106 5.5

Decompression 0 0

Ditching 2 .1

Forced landing 3 .2

Collision, on-ground or on-water: 101 5.2

Collision between aircraft 23 1.2

Collision with object 43 2.2

Encounter with terrain or water 33 1.7

Dragged wing, rotor, pod, float, or tail/skid 2 .1

Noncollision, on-ground or on-water: 422 21.8

Near collision between aircraft 0 0

Encounter with weather 5 .3

Loss of control 213 11.0

Nose down 1 0

Nose over 24 1.2

Rollover 10 .5

Propeller blast or jet exhaust/suction 1 0

Propeller/rotor contact to person 4 .2

Hard landing 112 5.8

Overrun 52 2.7

Power-related accident: (See Charts 14 and 15) 564 29.1

Engine tearaway 0 0

Propeller failure or malfunction 6 .3

Rotor failure or malfunction 2 .1

(continued)
General 21 Aircraft 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, 1996.

Type of accident as a

first occurrence

Number of

aircraft

Percent of

aircraft

(continued)

 Loss of engine power— 174 9.0

Total loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 111 5.7

Partial loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 36 1.9

Total loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 210 10.9

Partial loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 25 1.3

Landing gear-related accident: 32 1.7

Gear collapsed 7 .4

Main gear collapsed 5 .3

Nose gear collapsed 4 .2

Tail gear collapsed 0 0

Complete gear collapsed 0 0

Other gear collapsed 1 0

Gear not extended 0 0

Gear not retracted 0 0

Gear retraction on ground 4 .2

Wheels-up landing 9 .5

Wheels-down landing in water 2 .1

Miscellaneous accident: 33 1.7

Cargo shift 0 0

Fire 8 .4

Explosion 0 0

Fire/explosion 0 0

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

Miscellaneous/other 25 1.3

First occurrence not determined: 3 .2

Undetermined 1 0

Aircraft missing (not located or not recoverable) 2 .1

Number of aircraft 1,935 100.0
General 22 Aircraft 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, 1996.

Type of fatal accident as a

first occurrence

Number of

aircraft

Percent of

aircraft

Collision, in-flight: (See Chart 11) 94 25.7

Midair collision between aircraft 12 3.3

Collision with object 39 10.6

Collision with terrain or water 41 11.2

Dragged wing, rotor, pod, float, or tail/skid 1 .3

Undershoot 1 .3

Noncollision, in-flight: 192 52.5

Encounter with weather 49 13.4

Loss of control 115 31.4

Abrupt maneuver 2 .5

Airframe, component, system failure, malfunction 25 6.8

Forced landing 1 .3

Collision, on-ground or on-water 2 .5

Collision between aircraft 1 .3

Collision with object 1 .3

Noncollision, on-ground or on-water: 12 3.3

Loss of control 6 1.6

Nose over 1 .3

Propeller/rotor contact to person 2 .5

Hard landing 2 .5

Overrun 1 .3

Power-related accident: (See Chart 13) 56 15.3

Propeller failure or malfunction 1 .3

Rotor failure or malfunction 1 .3

Loss of engine power— 21 5.7

Total loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 8 2.2

Partial loss from mechanical failure or malfunction 6 1.6

Total loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 17 4.6

Partial loss from nonmechanical failure or malfunction 2 .5

Miscellaneous accident: 7 1.9

Fire 4 1.1

Miscellaneous/other 3 .8

First occurrence not determined: 3 .8

Undetermined 1 .3

Aircraft missing (not located or not recoverable) 2 .5

Number of aircraft 366 100.0
General 23 Aircraft Accident Data

Other phase

Standing

Taxi

Landing

Approach

Descent

Maneuvering

Cruise

Climb

Takeoff

24 17

18 1

50 1

504 15

254 52

50 10

274 98

339 108

63 18

359 46

Total

Fatal

Chart 10. A breakdown of the 1,935 total and 366 fatal accident-involved

aircraft by first phase of operation, 1996.

Phase of Operation
General 24 Aircraft Accident Data

Other

Aircraft

Environment

Pilot

221

198.4

625

603

884

863.8

1,507

1,585.6

1996

1992-96 (mean)

General Causes or Contributing Factors in Accidents

Other

Aircraft

Environment

Pilot

54

48.8

96

85

147

162.2

311

349.2

1996

1992-96 (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), 1996 and 1992 through

1996. (Multiple causes and factors may be cited in an accident.) In 1996, there were

1,935 accident-involved aircraft and 366 fatal accident-involved aircraft; for 1992 to

1996, the mean was 2,036 accident-involved aircraft and 411.2 fatal accidentinvolved aircraft.
General 25 Aircraft 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, 1996.

Object struck

Number of nonfatal and

fatal occurrences

Number of

fatal occurrences

Aircraft 35 12

Airport sign/marker 3 0

Animals 3 0

Antenna 3 2

Bird(s) 2 0

Bridge/overpass 1 1

Fence 12 1

Hangar/airport building 1 0

Pole 3 1

Residence 2 0

Terrain 138 46

Tower 5 4

Tree(s) 56 17

Utility pole 4 0

Vehicle 6 0

Wall/barricade 1 1

Wind sock/indicator 1 0

Wire(s) 48 11

Other phase

Maneuvering

Approach or landing

Cruise or descent

Takeoff or climb

9

8

94 32

121 21

37 25

53 8

Total

Fatal

Number by Phase of Operation

Chart 13. Aircraft involved in 314 total and 94 fatal

first occurrence in-flight collisions, 1996.
General 26 Aircraft Accident Data

Undetermined

Aircraft

(Builder)

(Maintenance)

(Pilot)

Human performance

112 9

249 26

7

63 8

240 23

309 30

Total

Fatal

Causes or Contributing Factors, Loss of Engine Power

Chart 14. Causes or contributing factors in 544 accident-involved

aircraft with loss of engine power as a first occurrence, 1996. (Multiple

causes and factors may be cited in an accident.)

Unknown

Maneuvering

Approach or landing

Cruise or descent

Takeoff or climb

1

1

67

7

94 10

216 17

166 16

Total

Fatal

Chart 15. First phase of operation for the 544 aircraft that

experienced loss of engine power, 1996.

Phase of Operation, Loss of Engine Power
Aircraft Operations Aircraft Accident Data 27

Aircraft

Operations

Aircraft Operations Aircraft Accident Data 29

Purpose of Flight

Instructional

Aerial application

Corporate/Executive

Personal and Business

Business

Personal

246

18

134

10

8

5

1,271 265

93

19

1,179 246

Total

Fatal

Instructional

Aerial application

Corporate/Executive

Personal and Business

5.17

0.38

7.82

0.58

0.28

0.17

10.34

2.16

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 per 100,000 aircraft hours flown (bottom), 1996.

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

presented as a combination of personal flying and businesss flying until

exposure data are available that divide flying hours between the two

categories.)
Aircraft Operations Aircraft Accident Data 30

Local Point-to-Point

IFR (144)

VFR (144)

None (737)

Chart 17. Type of flight for the total 1,935 accident-involved

aircraft, and the type of flight plan filed for the 1,025 point-topoint flights, 1996.

(910) (1,025)

At airport

Within 1 mile

1 to 5 miles Beyond 5 miles

(82) (6)

(440)

(382)

At origin Enroute

At destination

(202) (326)

(497)

Local Point-to-Point

Chart 18. Accident location for the 910 aircraft on a local flight and 1,025 on a

point-to-point flight, 1996.

Type of Flight Flight Plan Filed
Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 31

Accident

Environment

Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 33

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

0

50

100

150

200

250

Fatal

Nonfatal

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Fatal

Nonfatal

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

week (bottom) the accident occurred, 1996.

Day of the Week

Month of the Accident
Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 34

Injuries to Onboard Occupants

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

location, 1996.

Number of accident-involved

aircraft

Number of injured occupants aboard

aircraft

Location Fatal accidents Total Fatally injured Seriously injured Total

Alabama 8 32 15 5 59

Alaska 13 119 20 6 183

Arizona 12 65 25 23 150

Arkansas 6 44 14 8 68

California 47 218 79 36 363

Colorado 15 79 24 9 154

Connecticut 2 14 5 3 29

Delaware 0 1 0 2 2

Florida 27 129 46 25 218

Georgia 10 47 15 7 80

Hawaii 1 9 5 4 22

Idaho 7 30 16 4 55

Illinois 14 43 21 9 72

Indiana 7 27 10 2 48

Iowa 1 13 1 3 18

Kansas 1 29 2 4 47

Kentucky 1 14 1 3 25

Louisiana 10 37 14 8 55

Maine 4 14 6 0 23

Maryland 2 24 5 4 45

Massachusetts 4 27 5 1 41

Michigan 13 50 17 12 104

Minnesota 5 40 8 7 68

Mississippi 2 20 3 4 28

Missouri 5 28 11 8 56

Montana 5 20 9 2 40

Nebraska 3 14 6 1 25

Nevada 3 23 3 10 42

New Hampshire 3 11 7 2 20

New Jersey 7 33 10 10 61

New Mexico 4 37 10 10 78

New York 6 37 13 6 63

North Carolina 6 30 10 3 55

North Dakota 1 15 1 0 24

Ohio 11 39 18 12 65

(continued)
Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 35

Injuries to Onboard Occupants

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

location, 1996.

Number of accident-involved

aircraft

Number of injured occupants aboard

aircraft

Location Fatal accidents Total Fatally injured Seriously injured Total

(continued)

Oklahoma 6 36 11 4 57

Oregon 7 56 11 8 98

Pennsylvania 5 34 7 23 63

Rhode Island 0 3 0 4 8

South Carolina 5 17 7 7 26

South Dakota 2 11 2 0 17

Tennessee 4 29 4 5 49

Texas 18 128 25 19 217

Utah 5 26 8 0 47

Vermont 0 2 0 0 3

Virginia 6 24 13 7 65

Washington 10 61 12 8 97

West Virginia 6 12 11 1 26

Wisconsin 5 33 5 7 53

Wyoming 4 14 6 1 20

Atlantic Ocean 2 2 2 0 2

Gulf of Mexico 0 0 0 0 0

Pacific Ocean 1 2 1 0 2

Canada 1 3 1 2 9

Mexico 0 1 0 0 1

Puerto Rico 1 5 3 3 9

Guam 1 1 0 0 1

Virgin Island 1 1 3 0 3

Other foreign 10 22 28 4 57

Unknown 0 0 0 0 0

Total 366 1,935 615 356 3,416
Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 36

VMC

IMC

Not reported

VMC

IMC

Not reported

Weather Conditions

Accidents Fatal Accidents

(9)

(130)

(1,796)

(82)

(278)

(6)

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

and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC),

Daylight

Dusk or dawn

Night

Not reported

Daylight

Dusk or dawn Night

Not reported

IMC VMC

(42)

(77)

(4)

(7)

(72)

(1,588)

(33)

(103)

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

accident occurred, 1996.
Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 37

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, 1996.

Weather condition

Number in nonfatal

accidents

Number in fatal

accidents Total

Below approach/landing minimums 6 4 10

Carburetor icing conditions 16 1 17

Clouds 5 11 16

Crosswind 116 7 123

Downdraft 20 2 22

Drizzle 2 2 4

Dust devil/whirlwind 5 0 5

Fog 7 30 37

Gusts 96 9 105

Hail 1 1 2

Haze/smoke 3 0 3

High density altitude 27 9 36

High wind 29 7 36

Icing conditions 7 11 18

Low ceiling 11 34 45

Mountain wave 0 1 1

No thermal lift 3 1 4

Obscuration 2 5 7

Rain 1 6 7

Snow 3 8 11

Static discharge 0 1 1

Sudden windshift 6 0 6

Tailwind 29 7 36

Temperature (high) 4 0 4

Thermal lift 1 0 1

Thunderstorm 4 8 12

Thunderstorm (outflow) 1 0 1

Turbulence 7 3 10

Turbulence in clouds 0 1 1

Turbulence (thunderstorms) 1 4 5

(continued)
Accident Environment Aircraft Accident Data 38

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, 1996.

Weather condition

Number in nonfatal

accidents

Number in fatal

accidents Total

(continued)

Turbulence (clear air) 2 1 3

Turbulence (terrain induced) 2 3 5

Unfavorable wind 12 2 14

Variable wind 11 0 11

Windshear 8 1 9

Number involving weather 333 (21%) 109 (30%) 442 ( 23%)

Number of aircraft 1,569 366 1,935
Pilot Information Aircraft Accident Data 39

Pilot Information

Pilot Information Aircraft Accident Data 41

Student

Private

Commercial

ATP

Other

(716) (879)

(138) (164)

(38)

Non-rated Instrument rated

(821) (774)

Pilot Certificate Instrument Rating

(private and commercial)

Chart 24. The highest certificates held by the 1,935 accident-involved pilots and

the instrument ratings for 1,595 private and commercial certificate holders only.

"Other" includes none and unknown; ATP=airline transport pilot.
Pilot Information Aircraft Accident Data 42

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

Hours

Time In Type Total Time

Chart 25. The total hours and hours in aircraft type for the 1,868

pilots whose flight times were reported, 1996. (Note that the hours are

graphed on a logarithmic scale.)

Flight Time
Pilot Information Aircraft Accident Data 43

16-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ unk

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Ages

28

211

383

536

407

219

112

40

16-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ unk

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Ages

0

32

71

88

79

54

27

15

Chart 26. Age group of the 1,935 accident-involved pilots (top) and 366 fatal

accident-involved pilots (bottom), 1996.

Pilot Age - All Fatal Accidents

Pilot Age - All Accidents
Signature Page 44 Aircraft Accident Data

By the National Transportation Safety Board

James E. Hall John A. Hammerschmidt

Chairman Member

Robert T. Francis II John Goglia

Vice Chairman Member

George W. Black, Jr.

Member

Adopted: May 7, 1999
Appendix 45 Aircraft Accident Data

Appendix

Appendix 47 Aircraft Accident Data

 All Operations

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

1996.

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 2,582 474 967 879 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 1,995 404 730 723 22.235 8.96 (2) 1.81 (2)

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

1996 1,907 360 632 615 24.881 7.66 1.45

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 Aircraft Accident Data

 All Airplanes

Chart 28. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, all airplanes, 1975 through 1996.

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 2,301 427 903 807 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

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 Aircraft 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 1996.

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 2,061 359 715 625 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

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Airplanes with Multiple Reciprocating Engines

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

reciprocating engines, 1975 through 1996.

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 91 187 1.875 6.56 2.13

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Turboprop Airplanes

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

through 1996.

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
Appendix 52 Aircraft Accident Data

Turbojet Airplanes

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

1996.

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 6 18 18 1.361 1.25 0.44
Appendix 53 Aircraft Accident Data

All Rotorcraft

Chart 33. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, all rotorcraft, 1975 through 1996.

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

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Rotorcraft with Reciprocating Engine(s)

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

engine(s), 1975 through 1996.

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

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Rotorcraft with Turbine Engine(s)

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

1975 through 1996.

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

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Gliders

Chart 36. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, gliders, 1975 through 1996.

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

— Data not available.
Appendix 57 Aircraft Accident Data

Balloons

Chart 37. Number of accidents, fatalities, and accident rates, balloons, 1975 through 1996.

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

— Data not available.
Appendix 58 Aircraft Accident Data

Personal and Business Flying

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

1975 through 1996.

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 1,834 387 821 722 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

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Personal Flying

Chart 39. Number of accidents and fatalities,

personal flying, 1975 through 1996.

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 1,640 328 682 589

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
Appendix 60 Aircraft Accident Data

Business

Chart 40. Number of accidents and fatalities,

business flying, 1975 through 1996.

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
Appendix 61 Aircraft Accident Data

Corporate/Executive Flying

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

through 1996.

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
Appendix 62 Aircraft Accident Data

Aerial Application Flying

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

through 1996.

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

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 Aircraft Accident Data

Instructional Flying

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

1996.

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