In spite of increased flying hours, fatalities from business jet accidents worldwide decreased in the first three months of 2021 versus the same period last year, according to statistics calculated by AIN. Although there was one fatal crash in each of the comparable first quarters—both occurring under Part 91—the number of fatalities decreased from four last year to one this year (the sole pilot aboard). Non-fatal accidents involving U.S. business jets also fell from six in the first three months of 2020 to three in the same span this year.
U.S.-registered business turboprops were involved in four non-fatal accidents in the initial three months of 2021 versus five last year. There was one fatal turboprop accident in both first quarters—both also occurring under Part 91—but the number of fatalities declined from three last year to two this year.
There were no fatal accidents to non-U.S.-registered business jets in the first quarter. This compares to two accidents last year that claimed the lives of 11—eight on a charter flight and three on a navaid calibration mission.
However, the downward accident trend in the first quarter was dramatically reversed by mishaps to non-U.S.-registered turboprops. That segment had just one non-fatal accident in first-quarter 2020, but three fatal accidents killed 17 people in the first quarter of this year.