Story ID: 
Business Aviation Accidents Up This Year
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: According to aviation safety consulting firm Robert E.
Word Count: 159
According to aviation safety consulting firm Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla., there has been a “considerable increase” in the number of accidents (both fatal and nonfatal) and fatalities involving business jets and turboprops in the first nine months of this year. In the first three quarters of last year there were 39 accidents (12 fatal) and 32 fatalities involving turbine-powered business airplanes; the fleet experienced 56 accidents (17 fatal) and 49 fatalities in the same period this year. Part 91 corporate jets and turboprops flown by salaried professional pilots were involved in seven nonfatal accidents and two fatal accidents that killed 15; last year there were four nonfatal accidents. Part 135-operated business jets and turboprops had 23 accidents (eight fatal) and 26 fatalities in the first nine months, compared with 22 accidents (seven fatal) and 20 fatalities last year. The major fractionals remained fatality-free, but this segment did record two nonfatal accidents in the first three quarters, versus only one nonfatal accident in the same period last year.