This year’s first quarter recorded fewer business jet accidents worldwide than in the same period last year. However, there was one fatal crash early this year compared with no fatal bizjet crashes in the corresponding period last year. On January 18 this year, a U.S.-registered Cessna Citation 525 on a Part 91 IFR flight broke up in flight while maneuvering at altitude, killing the ATP-rated pilot and his passenger.
N-numbered business jets were involved in eight nonfatal mishaps in the first quarter of last year compared with one (Part 91) in the same time frame this year. On January 18 this year, a Dassault Falcon 20 sustained substantial damage when its right-side landing gear collapsed on landing, causing the airplane to roll off the runway.
There were no accidents involving Part 91K or Part 135 aircraft in the first quarter, versus one each in last year’s first quarter. While both these operational segments experienced incidents this year as opposed to none last year, fractional operations continue their enviable nonfatal record. Additionally, there were no mishaps in either first quarter involving business jets operated by public and civil government entities, or airframe manufacturers.
U.S. T-prop Record Suffered
In the first three months of this year, seven people were killed in the crash of a U.S.-registered business turboprop. In the same period last year three people were killed in three separate turboprop crashes. The seven people perished on March 29 this year when their Mitsubishi MU-2 on a Part 91 flight crashed while shooting an instrument approach to Quebec, Canada’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The twin turboprop struck terrain 1.2 miles southwest of the field. The accident is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Significantly, this is just the third fatal crash of an MU-2 in the approximately eight years since special training and operational requirements (SFAR 108) went into effect in April 2008 for pilots of U.S.-registered MU-2s. Twelve people lost their lives in those three accidents. But 34 people perished in 16 MU-2 crashes in the eight years preceding SFAR 108, according to data researched by AIN. There have also been fewer non-deadly accidents since compliance with SFAR 108 has been required.
In each of the comparable first quarters, U.S.-registered turboprops were involved in seven nonfatal accidents. This year, five accidents happened under Part 91 and two under Part 135. Last year, six crashes befell Part 91 operators and one a Part 135 flight. There were zero accidents to Part 91K turboprops in the first quarters of this year or last year.
Non-U.S.-Jet Record Improved
There were no fatal accidents involving non-U.S.-registered business jets in the first quarter of this year or in the same period in 2015. On March 2, 2016, a Mexican-registered, privately operated Citation that sustained major damage after going off the runway during its landing roll was the single non-deadly crash involving a non-N-numbered business jet in the first quarter compared with three nonfatal accidents (all private) in last year’s first quarter. In both quarters, there were no accidents recorded for any other operating category of non-N-numbered business jet.
Non-N-numbered business turboprops experienced eight accidents in this year’s first quarter, versus five in the corresponding time frame last year. There were three nonfatal accidents (the same as in 2015). Five accidents killed 16 people in the first three months of this year; last year 14 people died in two accidents during the first quarter. The fatal crash under the category of “Other” in the first quarter occurred in Namibia on January 29 this year, when a Cessna Conquest crashed on approach during a training flight. Three people perished in that accident.