Sept. 18, 2014
The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB’s) preliminary aviation statistics for 2013 show a substantial improvement in FAR Part 91 general aviation safety, while the number of accidents in Part 135 on-demand operations increased in 2013, compared to 2012.
In 2013, general aviation logged 20.9 million hours. During that time the segment suffered 1,222 accidents, down 249 from the 2012 total of 1,471. This decreased the overall general aviation accident rate markedly, to 5.85 per 100,000 hours, compared to the 7.04 rate in 2012. The 2013 GA accident rate was the lowest for that segment in 20 years.
There also was a substantial decrease in general aviation’s fatal accident rate, down to 1.05 in 2013 from 1.30 in 2012. This marked a 20-year low in the fatal GA accident rate.
On-demand Part 135 operations, which include charter, air taxi, air tour and air medical, experienced more accidents (44 in 2013), compared to 35 the previous year. The total Part 135 flight hours increased slightly, from 3.5 million in 2012 to 3.6 million in 2013.
The category’s accident rate in 2013 increased to 1.24, up from 0.99 in 2012. With 10 fatal accidents, three more than the previous year, the fatal accident rate increased in 2013 to 0.28, up from 0.20 in 2012.
Review the NTSB’s release on preliminary aviation statistics for 2013.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.