Accidents Up, Fatalities Down, Report Shows

In the first quarter of this year, the U.S. business jet and turboprop fleet experienced 14 nonfatal accidents, five fatal accidents and 11 fatalities compared with 11 nonfatal accidents, five fatal accidents and 15 fatalities in the same period last year, according to safety research firm Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. Part 91 and Part 135 business jets were involved in five nonfatal accidents and two fatal accidents resulting in four fatalities in the first three months of this year versus six nonfatal accidents and one fatal accident causing four deaths in the same period last year. In the first quarter of this year, all turboprop operations combined were involved in nine nonfatal accidents and three fatal accidents that resulted in seven fatalities. During the same period last year, there were five nonfatal turboprop accidents, four fatal accidents and 11 fatalities.