Story ID: 
Bizav Accident Stats Show a Mixed Picture
By: Jennifer Harrington
Caption: Business aviation saw a decline in accidents and incidents last year, from 60 in 2006 to 56 in the following year, but fatal accidents involving U.S.-regis
Word Count: 187
Business aviation saw a decline in accidents and incidents last year, from 60 in 2006 to 56 in the following year, but fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets and turboprops increased to 18 from 17 the year before, according to an annual summary of accidents and incidents released by Boca Raton, Fla.-based aviation safety analyst Robert E. Breiling Associates. The number of fatalities also increased, from 38 in 2006 to 53 last year. Among business jets, the fleet experienced 27 accidents last year compared with 28 in 2006, but the number of fatal accidents increased from four in 2006 to five last year. The number of fatalities also increased, from eight in 2006 to 14 last year. Likewise, the number of accidents among business turboprops decreased from 32 accidents in 2006 to 29 last year, and the number of fatalities increased from 30 in 2006 to 39 last year. The number of fatal turboprop accidents stayed the same, at 13. Many of the accidents–among both jets and turboprops–can be attributed to the Part 135 fleet, which “deteriorated considerably,” according to Breiling. There were 31 Part 135 accidents last year, including 10 fatal accidents and 27 fatalities, compared to 21 accidents the year before, including seven fatal accidents and 10 fatalities.