Business Aviation Safety Record Nearly Unchanged in 2010

Nine accidents last year involved U.S.-registered business aircraft, up only one from eight in 2009 despite a slight increase in flight hours. This is according to Boca Raton, Fla.-based industry safety analyst Robert E. Breiling Associates. Both years saw just one fatal jet crash, each claiming two lives. The fractional market witnessed one nonfatal accident in 2010, up from zero the previous year. In the turboprop sector, the number of accidents remained unchanged at 36, but the number of fatal accidents decreased by one, to six, in 2010. The total number of fatalities in those accidents dropped from 30 in 2009 to 17 last year. However, the number of Part 135 turboprop accidents increased sharply from 11 nonfatal crashes in 2009 to 17 (two fatal) last year.