The number of fatalities in business jet accidents last year more than doubled the 2013 tally, climbing to a level not seen since the mid-1990s. According to research by AIN, preliminary data indicates that last year 53 people were killed in 11 business-jet accidents worldwide in contrast to eight crashes with 23 fatalities in 2013.
Fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets held steady at six each for 2014 and 2013 (all under Part 91 for both years), but the number of fatalities last year climbed to 30 (including three people on the ground) from 17 in 2013. Nonfatal mishaps by Part 91 jet flights rose to five last year from four in 2013. Part 91K and Part 135 jet operations improved their accident figures, with the fractional segment experiencing no accidents last year compared with one in 2013, and the air taxi/on-demand charter sector going from three accidents in 2013 to one last year.
While the total number of accidents involving non-U.S.-registered business jets was unchanged at nine, the number of fatal accidents rose to five in 2014 from two in 2013 and fatalities nearly quadrupled to 23 last year from six in 2013. Fatal crashes from year-to-year of privately operated jets stayed at one, although four people died last year, two more than in 2013. Five people were killed in one jet charter accident last year in contrast to zero deaths in 2013.
Turboprop Record
In sharp contrast to the business jet safety statistics, business turboprop fatal accidents and fatalities worldwide dropped last year compared with 2013. According to the preliminary data, 17 accidents claimed 59 lives last year versus 27 crashes resulting in 87 deaths in 2013. Last year, U.S.-registered turboprops were involved in nine mishaps that claimed 24 lives, including three people on the ground, in contrast to 15 crashes and 45 deaths in 2013. All of the U.S.-registered turboprop fatal accidents last year occurred under Part 91. In 2013, two fatal crashes and 11 deaths happened to turboprops operating under Part 135.
Nonfatal U.S. turboprop accidents dropped to 19 last year from 28 in 2013, with that gain credited solely to an improvement in the Part 91 data. Nonfatal mishaps under Part 135 stayed at three year over year. The biggest improvement in reducing fatalities for non-N-numbered turboprops was by charter operators, which saw seven people killed in two crashes last year and 30 who died in five accidents in 2013.
Not included in these statistics are a number of turbine business aircraft that are stolen each year, usually for illegal flights in South America, and ultimately end up shot down or destroyed after they are forced to land by military forces. For example, last year alone, at least five business jets were reported to have been stolen and subsequently crashed or were destroyed on the ground.