U.S. Business Jet Accident Pace Off to Poor Start

Fatal and nonfatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets increased notably in the first quarter, compared with the same time frame last year. Alternatively, non-U.S.-registered business jets had no accidents in the first quarter versus six in the year-ago period.

According to statistics gathered by AIN, in the first three months 14 people, as well as two on the ground, were killed in three fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets, two of which occurred outside the U.S. In the first quarter of 2011, there were no fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets. The previous first quarter in which there were more fatal accidents and fatalities involving U.S.-registered business jets was in 2008, when 15 people died in four accidents. Twelve U.S.-registered business jets were involved in nonfatal accidents in the first quarter, two more than in the year-ago period.

While U.S.-registered turboprops logged zero fatalities in the first quarter compared to three a year ago, nonfatal mishaps increased to 14 this year versus eight last year. Outside the U.S., 12 people were killed in three non-U.S.-registered turboprop accidents during ferry, ambulance and government flights, respectively, compared with four crashes that killed 21 in the first quarter of 2011.