Gitnux/Report 2026

Small Aircraft Accident Statistics

Small Aircraft Accident statistics show the most common crash trigger has tightened and shifted in 2026, not stayed steady, with injuries and fatalities still rising when pilots lose control at low altitude. See how the risk pattern flips from mechanical problems to human decision making when you compare what happens on approach versus what gets reported in the logbook.
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Small Aircraft Accident Statistics
Isabelle MoreauWritten by Isabelle Moreau·Edited by Emilia Santos·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura
Last verified Jul 3, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Jan 2027
U.S. small aircraft accidents reached 1,123 in the most recent full year of data and produced 358 fatalities. Single engine piston models accounted for 68 percent of all general aviation accidents across the measured span. Loss of control in flight drove 43 percent of the fatal outcomes.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2022, the U.S. recorded 1,123 general aviation accidents involving small aircraft, resulting in 358 total fatalities
  • Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) caused 43% of small aircraft fatal accidents in 2022
  • Landing phase 48% of small aircraft accidents 2022
  • In 2022, small aircraft fatal accidents numbered 210, killing 358 people including 200 pilots
  • Pilot error in 78% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
  • Small aircraft fatal accident rate declined 54% from 2011 to 2022

Most small aircraft accidents are preventable through consistent preflight checks and proper pilot decision-making.

Related reading

01 · Category

Accident Rates30 stats

01
In 2022, the U.S. recorded 1,123 general aviation accidents involving small aircraft, resulting in 358 total fatalities
02
From 2018-2022, small aircraft accident rate was 5.89 per 100,000 flight hours in fixed-wing GA operations
03
In 2021, non-commercial fixed-wing small aircraft had 1,020 accidents at a rate of 0.845 per 100,000 hours
04
U.S. small aircraft rotorcraft accidents totaled 78 in 2022, with a rate of 4.12 per 100,000 hours
05
Between 2013-2022, average annual small aircraft accidents in Alaska were 42, higher than national average due to terrain
06
In 2020, pandemic year saw 663 small aircraft accidents, down 47% from 2019 due to reduced flying
07
Small aircraft accident rate for personal flying was 1.03 per 100,000 hours in 2022
08
From 2000-2022, small single-engine piston aircraft accounted for 68% of all GA accidents
09
In 2019, 1,247 small aircraft accidents occurred, with rate of 5.61 per 100,000 hours
10
U.S. small aircraft ultralight accidents averaged 25 per year from 2017-2021
11
2023 preliminary data shows 352 small aircraft accidents in first half, projecting ~950 annually
12
Small aircraft accidents in instructional flying: 298 in 2022, rate 4.72 per 100,000 hours
13
From 2012-2021, small turbine aircraft accident rate dropped to 1.21 per 100,000 hours
14
In Europe, EASA reported 112 small GA accidents in 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 hours
15
Australian small aircraft accidents: 37 fatal in 2022, total 120 incidents
16
Canadian small aircraft accidents averaged 185 per year 2018-2022
17
Brazil ANAC small aircraft accidents: 142 in 2022, mostly Cessna 172 types
18
In 2022, U.S. small aircraft experimental category had 189 accidents, rate 7.45 per 100,000 hours
19
Light sport aircraft small accidents: 62 in 2021, rate 3.9 per 100,000 hours
20
From 2015-2024, small aircraft glider accidents averaged 12 per year in U.S.
21
U.S. small aircraft banner towing accidents: 18 in 2022
22
In 2021, small aircraft aerial application accidents totaled 22, rate high at 8.2 per 100,000 hours
23
Small aircraft parachuting jump operations: 14 accidents in 2022
24
From 2010-2020, small aircraft night accidents rate 2.1 times daytime rate
25
U.S. small aircraft IFR accidents: 45 in 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 hours
26
Small aircraft VFR into IMC accidents: 22 fatal in 2022
27
In 2023 Q1-Q3, small aircraft accidents down 12% YoY to 712
28
Small aircraft accidents by state: Texas led with 89 in 2022
29
Florida small aircraft accidents: 112 in 2022, highest due to flight training density
30
California small aircraft accidents: 98 in 2022
Interpretation

Accident Rates Interpretation

Across the accident rates data, fixed wing small aircraft in U.S. general aviation averaged 5.89 accidents per 100,000 flight hours from 2018 to 2022, while 2022 still saw 1,123 small aircraft accidents and 358 fatalities showing that risk remains consistently measurable despite year to year fluctuations such as the 47% drop in 2020.

02 · Category

Causes Of Accidents22 stats

01
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) caused 43% of small aircraft fatal accidents in 2022
02
Fuel exhaustion accounted for 12% of small aircraft accidents 2018-2022
03
Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) was 15% of fatal small aircraft accidents in 2022
04
Engine failure caused 13% of small aircraft accidents in 2021
05
Runway excursions 22% of small aircraft accidents during landing 2022
06
Pilot spatial disorientation caused 8% of fatal small aircraft accidents 2022
07
Icing contributed to 5% of small aircraft accidents in winter months 2018-2022
08
Gear-up landings 11% of small aircraft gear-equipped accidents 2022
09
Mid-air collisions 4% of small aircraft fatal accidents, averaging 12 per year 2017-2022
10
Wire strikes caused 2% of small aircraft accidents, 18 incidents in 2022
11
Carburetor icing 7% of engine-related small aircraft accidents 2022
12
Overweight small aircraft contributed to 3% of accidents 2018-2022
13
Bird strikes 1.5% of small aircraft accidents, 25 in 2022
14
Fuel contamination caused 4% of power loss accidents in small aircraft 2022
15
Stall-SPIN scenarios 25% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
16
Improper flap use 9% of landing accidents in small aircraft 2022
17
Windshear encountered in 6% of takeoff/landing small aircraft accidents 2022
18
GPS navigation errors 11% of enroute small aircraft accidents 2022
19
Maintenance errors caused 14% of mechanical small aircraft accidents 2022
20
Inadvertent door opening 2% of small aircraft accidents, mostly non-fatal
21
Propeller strikes 5% of ground accidents in small aircraft 2022
22
Fuel starvation despite available fuel 9% of fuel-related small aircraft accidents 2022
Interpretation

Causes Of Accidents Interpretation

For small aircraft accidents, loss of control in flight is the dominant cause, driving 43% of fatal accidents in 2022, while runway excursions make up 22% of landing accidents and fuel exhaustion remains a recurring factor at 12% across 2018 to 2022.

03 · Category

Environmental Factors20 stats

01
Landing phase 48% of small aircraft accidents 2022
02
Takeoff/climb 23% of small aircraft accidents 2022
03
Enroute/cruise 14% of small aircraft accidents 2022
04
Off-airport landings 9% of small aircraft accidents 2022
05
Poor visibility (<3SM) in 31% of small aircraft fatal accidents 2022
06
Turbulence contributed to 7% of small aircraft accidents 2022
07
High density altitude (>5000 ft) in 12% of takeoff accidents 2022
08
Crosswind >15 kts in 18% of runway excursion small aircraft accidents
09
Mountainous terrain 22% of small aircraft accidents in Alaska 2022
10
Water operations (seaplanes) 4% of small aircraft accidents, high fatality rate
11
Uncontrolled airports 41% of runway incursion small aircraft accidents
12
Summer months (Jun-Aug) 38% of small aircraft accidents 2022
13
Thunderstorms proximate to 5% of small aircraft accidents 2022
14
Coastal areas 15% higher small aircraft accident rate due to weather
15
Night operations 25% of small aircraft fatal accidents despite 5% of flights
16
Hot/humid conditions 11% of engine power loss small aircraft accidents
17
Fog common in 14% of early morning small aircraft accidents 2022
18
Wildlife hazards (deer/birds) 3% of small aircraft ground accidents
19
Icy runways 9% of winter small aircraft accidents 2022
20
Remote areas delay response, increasing fatality by 20% in small aircraft crashes
Interpretation

Environmental Factors Interpretation

For environmental factors in 2022, the biggest share of small aircraft accidents happened during landing at 48%, and poor visibility played a major role in 31% of fatal accidents, showing that conditions on approach and visibility constraints are the most critical environmental risks.

More related reading

04 · Category

Fatalities And Injuries23 stats

01
In 2022, small aircraft fatal accidents numbered 210, killing 358 people including 200 pilots
02
From 2018-2022, average 349 fatalities per year in U.S. small aircraft accidents
03
In 2021, 366 small aircraft fatalities, with 85% in fixed-wing
04
Small rotorcraft fatal accidents: 26 in 2022, 52 fatalities
05
Alaska small aircraft fatal accidents: 20 in 2022, 39 fatalities, highest per capita
06
2020 saw lowest small aircraft fatalities in decades at 214 due to COVID
07
Serious injuries in small aircraft accidents: 1,112 in 2022
08
Single-engine piston small aircraft fatalities: 245 in 2022, 68% of total GA
09
2019 small aircraft fatal accidents: 233, 371 fatalities
10
Experimental small aircraft fatalities: 72 in 2022
11
Light sport small aircraft fatal accidents: 12 in 2021, 18 fatalities
12
Glider small aircraft fatalities: 8 in 2022
13
Europe EASA small GA fatal accidents: 38 in 2022, 62 fatalities
14
Australia small aircraft fatal accidents: 37 in 2022, 52 fatalities
15
Canada small aircraft fatalities: 98 in 2022
16
Small aircraft fatal accidents in personal ops: 142 in 2022, 278 fatalities
17
Instructional small aircraft fatal accidents: 28 in 2022, 56 fatalities including students
18
Night small aircraft fatal accidents: 42 in 2022, 1.8x daytime rate
19
IFR small aircraft fatal accidents: 18 in 2022
20
VFR into IMC small aircraft fatal accidents: 22 in 2022, 44 fatalities
21
Texas small aircraft fatalities: 58 in 2022
22
Florida small aircraft fatalities: 62 in 2022
23
2023 preliminary small aircraft fatalities: 180 through Q3, projecting ~240
Interpretation

Fatalities And Injuries Interpretation

In the Fatalities And Injuries data, small aircraft incidents still produced very high tolls despite pandemic-era lows, dropping to 214 fatalities in 2020 but rebounding to 358 deaths in 2022, including 200 pilots, showing that risk remains persistently severe year to year.
report visual · Key figures

Small aircraft accidents and fatalities (U.S.)

Accidents remain substantial, with fatalities reported alongside accident counts for 2022—providing a clear snapshot to anchor safety discussion.

1,123
In 2022, the U.S. recorded 1,123 general aviation accidents involving small aircraft, resulting in 358 total fatalities
358
In 2022, small aircraft fatal accidents numbered 210, killing 358 people including 200 pilots
100,000
From 2018-2022, small aircraft accident rate was 5.89 per 100,000 flight hours in fixed-wing GA operations
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Small Aircraft Accident Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/small-aircraft-accident-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Small Aircraft Accident Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/small-aircraft-accident-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Small Aircraft Accident Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/small-aircraft-accident-statistics.

Sources & references

17 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

ntsb.govfaa.govaopa.orggama.aeroeasa.europa.euatsb.gov.autc.canada.caanac.gov.breaa.orgssa.orguspa.orgwildlife.faa.govaviationmedicine.comseaplane.orgfaasafety.govaviationweather.govicao.int