Gitnux/Report 2026

Flight Safety Statistics

With 224 fatal accidents and 968 deaths recorded in US aviation in 2022, the page puts hard safety pressure on what is usually discussed too vaguely. It pairs that timeline of accident totals with the rules that shape operator management systems and transport category aircraft certification, from EU Regulation No 965/2012 to FAA 14 CFR Parts 25 and 121 and EASA CS-25, so you can see how governance meets risk.
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June 22, 2026Updated
Flight Safety Statistics
Christopher MorganWritten by Christopher Morgan·Edited by Yumi Nakamura·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

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02Source Research

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NTSB data shows 863 aviation accidents in the most recent count. The figure marks a rebound after a sharp drop to 677 yet remains below the levels that exceeded one thousand in earlier periods. Both EASA and FAA rules now require formal safety management systems and set certification standards for transport category aircraft.

Key Takeaways

  • In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 863 aviation accidents in 2022
  • In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 916 aviation accidents in 2021
  • In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 677 aviation accidents in 2020
  • EU Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 sets requirements for AOC operators including management systems for risk and safety
  • In the U.S., 14 CFR Part 121 requires an approved Safety Management System for covered operators
  • EASA CS-25 provides certification specifications for transport-category aeroplanes affecting flight safety design
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 25 contains airworthiness standards related to design and flight safety for transport-category aircraft

U.S. aviation accidents fell from 1,114 in 2007 to 863 in 2022 as fatal accidents and fatalities also decreased.

Related reading

01 · Category

Performance Metrics30 stats

01
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 863 aviation accidents in 2022https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2022
02
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 916 aviation accidents in 2021https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2021
03
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 677 aviation accidents in 2020https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2020
04
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 737 aviation accidents in 2019https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2019
05
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,042 aviation accidents in 2018https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2018
06
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,034 aviation accidents in 2017https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2017
07
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,058 aviation accidents in 2016https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2016
08
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,054 aviation accidents in 2015https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2015
09
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,100 aviation accidents in 2014https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2014
10
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,084 aviation accidents in 2013https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2013
11
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,063 aviation accidents in 2012https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2012
12
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,062 aviation accidents in 2011https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2011
13
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,070 aviation accidents in 2010https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2010
14
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,092 aviation accidents in 2009https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2009
15
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,090 aviation accidents in 2008https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2008
16
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,114 aviation accidents in 2007https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2007
17
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,046 aviation accidents in 2006https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2006
18
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,011 aviation accidents in 2005https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2005
19
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,013 aviation accidents in 2004https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2004
20
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 1,007 aviation accidents in 2003https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2003
21
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 986 aviation accidents in 2002https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2002
22
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 931 aviation accidents in 2001https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2001
23
In the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported 927 aviation accidents in 2000https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2000
24
In 2022, NTSB reported 224 fatal accidents in U.S. aviationhttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2022
25
In 2021, NTSB reported 236 fatal accidents in U.S. aviationhttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2021
26
In 2020, NTSB reported 178 fatal accidents in U.S. aviationhttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2020
27
In 2019, NTSB reported 183 fatal accidents in U.S. aviationhttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2019
28
In 2018, NTSB reported 244 fatal accidents in U.S. aviationhttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2018
29
In 2022, NTSB reported 968 fatalities from U.S. aviation accidentshttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2022
30
In 2021, NTSB reported 1,066 fatalities from U.S. aviation accidentshttps://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/accidentstats/Stats.aspx?year=2021
Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

After peaking at 1,114 aviation accidents in 2007 and staying above about 1,000 annually through 2014, the U.S. NTSB reported a clear drop in 2020 with 677 accidents and then a rebound to 863 in 2022.

02 · Category

User Adoption2 stats

01
EU Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 sets requirements for AOC operators including management systems for risk and safetyhttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/965/oj
02
In the U.S., 14 CFR Part 121 requires an approved Safety Management System for covered operatorshttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-121
Interpretation

User Adoption Interpretation

Both sides of the Atlantic are converging on formal Safety Management System requirements, with the EU mandating it under Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 and the U.S. requiring an approved SMS under 14 CFR Part 121 for covered Part 121 operators.

More related reading

Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Flight Safety Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/flight-safety-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Flight Safety Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/flight-safety-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Flight Safety Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/flight-safety-statistics.

Sources & references

27 datasets cited across this report

ntsb.goveur-lex.europa.euecfr.goveasa.europa.eu

+23 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)