While you might think of small aircraft accidents as rare occurrences, the stark reality is that in 2022 alone, the United States recorded 1,123 general aviation accidents, tragically resulting in 358 fatalities.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the U.S. recorded 1,123 general aviation accidents involving small aircraft, resulting in 358 total fatalities
- From 2018-2022, small aircraft accident rate was 5.89 per 100,000 flight hours in fixed-wing GA operations
- In 2021, non-commercial fixed-wing small aircraft had 1,020 accidents at a rate of 0.845 per 100,000 hours
- In 2022, small aircraft fatal accidents numbered 210, killing 358 people including 200 pilots
- From 2018-2022, average 349 fatalities per year in U.S. small aircraft accidents
- In 2021, 366 small aircraft fatalities, with 85% in fixed-wing
- Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) caused 43% of small aircraft fatal accidents in 2022
- Fuel exhaustion accounted for 12% of small aircraft accidents 2018-2022
- Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) was 15% of fatal small aircraft accidents in 2022
- Pilot error in 78% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
- Inadequate flight planning contributed to 22% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Pilots with <100 hours total time in 18% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Landing phase 48% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Takeoff/climb 23% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Enroute/cruise 14% of small aircraft accidents 2022
Small aircraft accidents remain persistently dangerous despite some recent safety improvements.
Accident Rates
- In 2022, the U.S. recorded 1,123 general aviation accidents involving small aircraft, resulting in 358 total fatalities
- From 2018-2022, small aircraft accident rate was 5.89 per 100,000 flight hours in fixed-wing GA operations
- In 2021, non-commercial fixed-wing small aircraft had 1,020 accidents at a rate of 0.845 per 100,000 hours
- U.S. small aircraft rotorcraft accidents totaled 78 in 2022, with a rate of 4.12 per 100,000 hours
- Between 2013-2022, average annual small aircraft accidents in Alaska were 42, higher than national average due to terrain
- In 2020, pandemic year saw 663 small aircraft accidents, down 47% from 2019 due to reduced flying
- Small aircraft accident rate for personal flying was 1.03 per 100,000 hours in 2022
- From 2000-2022, small single-engine piston aircraft accounted for 68% of all GA accidents
- In 2019, 1,247 small aircraft accidents occurred, with rate of 5.61 per 100,000 hours
- U.S. small aircraft ultralight accidents averaged 25 per year from 2017-2021
- 2023 preliminary data shows 352 small aircraft accidents in first half, projecting ~950 annually
- Small aircraft accidents in instructional flying: 298 in 2022, rate 4.72 per 100,000 hours
- From 2012-2021, small turbine aircraft accident rate dropped to 1.21 per 100,000 hours
- In Europe, EASA reported 112 small GA accidents in 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 hours
- Australian small aircraft accidents: 37 fatal in 2022, total 120 incidents
- Canadian small aircraft accidents averaged 185 per year 2018-2022
- Brazil ANAC small aircraft accidents: 142 in 2022, mostly Cessna 172 types
- In 2022, U.S. small aircraft experimental category had 189 accidents, rate 7.45 per 100,000 hours
- Light sport aircraft small accidents: 62 in 2021, rate 3.9 per 100,000 hours
- From 2015-2024, small aircraft glider accidents averaged 12 per year in U.S.
- U.S. small aircraft banner towing accidents: 18 in 2022
- In 2021, small aircraft aerial application accidents totaled 22, rate high at 8.2 per 100,000 hours
- Small aircraft parachuting jump operations: 14 accidents in 2022
- From 2010-2020, small aircraft night accidents rate 2.1 times daytime rate
- U.S. small aircraft IFR accidents: 45 in 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 hours
- Small aircraft VFR into IMC accidents: 22 fatal in 2022
- In 2023 Q1-Q3, small aircraft accidents down 12% YoY to 712
- Small aircraft accidents by state: Texas led with 89 in 2022
- Florida small aircraft accidents: 112 in 2022, highest due to flight training density
- California small aircraft accidents: 98 in 2022
Accident Rates Interpretation
While the statistics show that small aircraft flying carries a measurable risk—highlighted by the sobering fact that a single-engine piston aircraft is involved in most accidents—the data also tells a story of a community that is constantly calibrating, with safety rates improving in complex operations and dipping sharply when fewer planes are in the air, proving that rigor and volume are the twin engines of accident prevention.
Causes of Accidents
- Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) caused 43% of small aircraft fatal accidents in 2022
- Fuel exhaustion accounted for 12% of small aircraft accidents 2018-2022
- Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) was 15% of fatal small aircraft accidents in 2022
- Engine failure caused 13% of small aircraft accidents in 2021
- Runway excursions 22% of small aircraft accidents during landing 2022
- Pilot spatial disorientation caused 8% of fatal small aircraft accidents 2022
- Icing contributed to 5% of small aircraft accidents in winter months 2018-2022
- Gear-up landings 11% of small aircraft gear-equipped accidents 2022
- Mid-air collisions 4% of small aircraft fatal accidents, averaging 12 per year 2017-2022
- Wire strikes caused 2% of small aircraft accidents, 18 incidents in 2022
- Carburetor icing 7% of engine-related small aircraft accidents 2022
- Overweight small aircraft contributed to 3% of accidents 2018-2022
- Bird strikes 1.5% of small aircraft accidents, 25 in 2022
- Fuel contamination caused 4% of power loss accidents in small aircraft 2022
- Stall-SPIN scenarios 25% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
- Improper flap use 9% of landing accidents in small aircraft 2022
- Windshear encountered in 6% of takeoff/landing small aircraft accidents 2022
- GPS navigation errors 11% of enroute small aircraft accidents 2022
- Maintenance errors caused 14% of mechanical small aircraft accidents 2022
- Inadvertent door opening 2% of small aircraft accidents, mostly non-fatal
- Propeller strikes 5% of ground accidents in small aircraft 2022
- Fuel starvation despite available fuel 9% of fuel-related small aircraft accidents 2022
Causes of Accidents Interpretation
Pilots must wrestle back the stick from their own hubris, fight the deceptive calm of complacency, and remember that the sky, while forgiving of minor errors, tallies the major ones with brutal and statistical precision.
Environmental Factors
- Landing phase 48% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Takeoff/climb 23% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Enroute/cruise 14% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Off-airport landings 9% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Poor visibility (<3SM) in 31% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
- Turbulence contributed to 7% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- High density altitude (>5000 ft) in 12% of takeoff accidents 2022
- Crosswind >15 kts in 18% of runway excursion small aircraft accidents
- Mountainous terrain 22% of small aircraft accidents in Alaska 2022
- Water operations (seaplanes) 4% of small aircraft accidents, high fatality rate
- Uncontrolled airports 41% of runway incursion small aircraft accidents
- Summer months (Jun-Aug) 38% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Thunderstorms proximate to 5% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Coastal areas 15% higher small aircraft accident rate due to weather
- Night operations 25% of small aircraft fatal accidents despite 5% of flights
- Hot/humid conditions 11% of engine power loss small aircraft accidents
- Fog common in 14% of early morning small aircraft accidents 2022
- Wildlife hazards (deer/birds) 3% of small aircraft ground accidents
- Icy runways 9% of winter small aircraft accidents 2022
- Remote areas delay response, increasing fatality by 20% in small aircraft crashes
Environmental Factors Interpretation
Despite pilots' rightful focus on the thrilling complexities of flight, the unforgiving statistics remind us that the simple return to earth—often complicated by haste, weather, or a deer with poor life choices—is where nearly half of all small aircraft accidents demand our utmost respect and preparation.
Fatalities and Injuries
- In 2022, small aircraft fatal accidents numbered 210, killing 358 people including 200 pilots
- From 2018-2022, average 349 fatalities per year in U.S. small aircraft accidents
- In 2021, 366 small aircraft fatalities, with 85% in fixed-wing
- Small rotorcraft fatal accidents: 26 in 2022, 52 fatalities
- Alaska small aircraft fatal accidents: 20 in 2022, 39 fatalities, highest per capita
- 2020 saw lowest small aircraft fatalities in decades at 214 due to COVID
- Serious injuries in small aircraft accidents: 1,112 in 2022
- Single-engine piston small aircraft fatalities: 245 in 2022, 68% of total GA
- 2019 small aircraft fatal accidents: 233, 371 fatalities
- Experimental small aircraft fatalities: 72 in 2022
- Light sport small aircraft fatal accidents: 12 in 2021, 18 fatalities
- Glider small aircraft fatalities: 8 in 2022
- Europe EASA small GA fatal accidents: 38 in 2022, 62 fatalities
- Australia small aircraft fatal accidents: 37 in 2022, 52 fatalities
- Canada small aircraft fatalities: 98 in 2022
- Small aircraft fatal accidents in personal ops: 142 in 2022, 278 fatalities
- Instructional small aircraft fatal accidents: 28 in 2022, 56 fatalities including students
- Night small aircraft fatal accidents: 42 in 2022, 1.8x daytime rate
- IFR small aircraft fatal accidents: 18 in 2022
- VFR into IMC small aircraft fatal accidents: 22 in 2022, 44 fatalities
- Texas small aircraft fatalities: 58 in 2022
- Florida small aircraft fatalities: 62 in 2022
- 2023 preliminary small aircraft fatalities: 180 through Q3, projecting ~240
Fatalities and Injuries Interpretation
While the numbers may be statistically small, the human cost is starkly real, reminding us that in aviation, complacency is the one risk factor that never shows up on the safety report until it's written in tragedy.
Pilot-Related Statistics
- Pilot error in 78% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
- Inadequate flight planning contributed to 22% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Pilots with <100 hours total time in 18% of small aircraft accidents 2022
- Night currency lapse in 45% of night small aircraft accidents 2022
- Instrument rating holders involved in 62% of VFR-IMC small aircraft accidents
- CFIs in 29% of instructional small aircraft accidents 2022
- Pilots aged 60-69 in 28% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
- Medical certification issues in 7% of small aircraft accidents 2018-2022
- Fatigue cited in 12% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
- Risky decision-making (get-there-itis) in 19% of accidents 2022
- Single-pilot IFR ops 82% of IFR small aircraft accidents 2022
- Pilots lacking recent spin training in 67% of stall-spin small aircraft accidents
- Continuing flight after mechanical anomaly in 34% of engine failure accidents
- Poor weather minimums decision in 55% of marginal VFR accidents 2022
- Distraction (phone use) in 8% of recent small aircraft accidents 2022
- Female pilots in 6% of small aircraft accidents despite 7% of pilots
- High-time pilots (>5000 hrs) in 22% of fatal accidents 2022
- Alcohol/impairment in 5% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2018-2022 average
- Lack of CRM training in 91% of single-pilot small aircraft accidents
- Judgment errors in 41% of loss of control small aircraft accidents 2022
Pilot-Related Statistics Interpretation
The data suggests that while flying a small aircraft is statistically safer than a morning commute on most highways, the single most reliable co-pilot isn't automation or fancy instruments, but a humble, brutally honest pre-flight checklist of one's own ego, preparation, and current limitations.
Safety Trends
- Small aircraft fatal accident rate declined 54% from 2011 to 2022
- GA small aircraft accidents down 30% since 2000 due to better training
- Fatal accident rate for small turbine aircraft fell to 0.67 per 100k hrs in 2022
- ADS-B mandate reduced mid-airs by 25% post-2020 in small aircraft
- Angle of attack (AoA) indicators in 15% of fleet correlated with 40% LOC-I reduction
- BasicMed users had 12% lower accident rate than 3rd class medical 2018-2022
- WINGS program participants 35% less likely in small aircraft accidents
- Glass cockpit transition initially increased accidents by 20% but now safer
- ELT improvements post-2020 reduced search time by 50% in small aircraft crashes
- Drone incursions near small aircraft up 45% 2020-2023 but accidents low
- Small aircraft safety improved 2.5x since 1980s per flight hour
- Fuel management training reduced exhaustion by 28% 2015-2022
- Stall/SPIN recovery training mandates lowered rates by 18%
- PIREPs usage up 30%, correlating to 15% fewer weather accidents
- Small aircraft accident survivability 75% due to airframe improvements
- CFIT warnings (TAWS) in turbine small aircraft reduced by 60%
- Online recurrent training participation up 50%, accidents down 10%
- Light sport aircraft accident rate halved since 2008 introduction
- Post-COVID flight hours recovery with 8% lower accident rate 2023
- Experimental amateur-built small aircraft safety improved 22% with better oversight
- Global small GA fatal rate 1.2 per million departures 2022, down from 2.1 in 2012
Safety Trends Interpretation
These statistics reveal a powerful truth: small aircraft safety isn't a miracle but a hard-won victory, forged from better gear, sharper training, and the simple, stubborn refusal of pilots to stop improving.
Sources & References
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- Reference 12WILDLIFEwildlife.faa.govVisit source
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