Nimbl: Procedural Errors Top Cause of Bizav Incidents

Procedural errors are the most frequently reported cause of safety-related incidents in business aviation, according to Nimbl’s newly released 2026 Annual Safety Report. The findings draw on data collected through incident reports submitted via Nimbl’s safety management system platform.

Several safety categories—including procedures, aircraft systems, facilities and environments, aircraft movement, and towing—and phase of flight were examined for each incident, along with contributing factors such as aircraft, crew, facility, and operational issues. Among the findings: 60% of incidents occurred during ground operations or the approach phase of flight, 58% cited two or more contributing risk factors, and 60% of reports listed both human and operational risks. A significant number of incidents involved third parties, which Nimbl said reflects the interconnected nature of business aviation operations.

“As an industry, we can’t become complacent when it comes to safety practices,” said Nimbl CEO Mark Baier. “This report highlights recent incidents, providing operators with actionable intelligence they can use to strengthen their safety culture and proactively address operational threats before they can become actual incidents.”

According to Baier, the findings reflect a broader pattern seen across the industry. “Just like the Swiss cheese model concept teaches us, incidents are rarely caused by one single issue. More often, they happen when small gaps in procedures, communication, training, or operational oversight line up at the wrong time,” he said.