While the skies may seem boundless, the sobering reality for small aircraft pilots is that a single moment of loss of control accounts for over half of all crashes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 52% of small aircraft crashes in the US were due to loss of control in flight (LOC-I), primarily during approach and landing phases
- Fuel exhaustion contributed to 8.3% of general aviation fixed-wing crashes between 2018-2022, often linked to poor fuel management
- Mechanical failure of engines caused 11% of small plane accidents in 2021, with carburetor icing being a subset at 2.5%
- In 2022, small aircraft crashes resulted in 336 fatalities out of 1,225 total accidents, a fatality rate of 27.4%
- From 2018-2022, 78% of small aircraft crash fatalities occurred in crashes involving aircraft under 12,500 lbs
- Night operations in small aircraft had a fatality rate 2.5 times higher than daytime in 2021, with 42% fatal
- In Alaska, small aircraft crashes accounted for 19% of all aviation fatalities in 2022, totaling 42 deaths
- Florida had 112 small aircraft accidents in 2023, with highest density per capita in the US
- California reported 145 small aircraft crashes from 2019-2023, mostly coastal areas
- Pilot error was implicated in 84% of small aircraft crashes in 2022 NTSB reports
- Inadequate preflight planning contributed to 31% of small aircraft accidents 2018-2022
- Pilots with less than 100 hours in type had 2.8 times higher crash risk in 2021
- In 2022, adverse weather was a factor in 23% of all small aircraft crashes in the US
- Icing conditions contributed to 12% of small aircraft fatal accidents in winter 2018-2023
- Low visibility (<3 miles) increased small aircraft crash risk by 4.1 times in 2021
Small aircraft crashes often stem from pilot error, weather factors, and mechanical failures.
Crash Causes
- In 2022, 52% of small aircraft crashes in the US were due to loss of control in flight (LOC-I), primarily during approach and landing phases
- Fuel exhaustion contributed to 8.3% of general aviation fixed-wing crashes between 2018-2022, often linked to poor fuel management
- Mechanical failure of engines caused 11% of small plane accidents in 2021, with carburetor icing being a subset at 2.5%
- Mid-air collisions accounted for 4.2% of small aircraft crashes from 2015-2020, mostly in uncontrolled airspace
- Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) represented 15% of fatal small aircraft accidents in 2019, exacerbated by VFR into IMC
- Runway excursions during takeoff or landing caused 22% of non-fatal small aircraft incidents in 2023
- Icing-related crashes in small aircraft rose by 15% in winter months from 2017-2021
- Propeller strikes led to 3.1% of small aircraft accidents involving ground operations between 2010-2020
- Gear-up landings occurred in 7% of retractable gear small aircraft crashes in 2022
- Stall/SPIN scenarios were responsible for 25% of fatal small aircraft crashes under 14 CFR Part 91 in 2021
- Bird strikes caused 1.8% of small aircraft power loss events leading to crashes from 2016-2022
- Overweight conditions contributed to 5% of takeoff accidents in light aircraft during 2019-2023
- Spatial disorientation led to 9% of night VFR small aircraft crashes in the US from 2015-2020
- Fuel contamination incidents resulted in 2.4% of engine failures in piston-engine small planes in 2022
- Tailwind landings increased crash risk by 3 times in small aircraft per NTSB analysis 2018-2022
- Carburetor heat misuse caused 4% of power loss crashes in 2021 winter operations
- Collision with terrain during go-arounds accounted for 6.2% of accidents in 2020
- Elevator control failures from corrosion led to 1.5% of structural crashes in older small aircraft 2010-2020
- Improper flap settings contributed to 3.7% of landing accidents in 2023
- Wake turbulence encounters caused 2.1% of small aircraft crashes near towered airports 2017-2022
- Exhaust system failures resulted in 1.2% of in-flight fires leading to crashes in 2021
- Improper weight and balance caused 4.8% of in-flight upset events 2019-2023
- Landing gear collapse on rough fields led to 5.5% of off-airport landings 2018-2022
- Throttle linkage failures accounted for 0.9% of takeoff climb crashes in 2022
- Wind shear during takeoff caused 3.3% of small aircraft departures from runways 2020-2023
- Navigation errors in GPS-equipped small aircraft led to 2.7% of CFIT in 2021
- Door opening in flight contributed to 1.1% of distraction-related crashes 2015-2020
- Alternator failures led to 2.2% of electrical system crashes in IFR conditions 2019-2022
- Rudder pedal issues caused 1.4% of yaw-related loss of control in 2023
- Hypoxia incidents in unpressurized small aircraft above 10,000 ft resulted in 0.8% of high-altitude crashes 2017-2022
Crash Causes Interpretation
Small aircraft accidents reveal a sobering truth: despite our advanced technology and procedures, the most critical failure point remains the tragic, often preventable, human calculus of fuel, focus, and physics.
Environmental and Weather Factors
- In 2022, adverse weather was a factor in 23% of all small aircraft crashes in the US
- Icing conditions contributed to 12% of small aircraft fatal accidents in winter 2018-2023
- Low visibility (<3 miles) increased small aircraft crash risk by 4.1 times in 2021
- Thunderstorms were associated with 7% of enroute small aircraft crashes 2019-2022
- High density altitude (>5000 ft) caused 15% of takeoff performance crashes in 2023
- Crosswinds exceeding 15 knots led to 19% of landing excursions 2020-2023
- Fog-related small aircraft crashes totaled 56 events in 2022, mostly early morning
- Turbulence in mountains caused 9% of in-flight breakups 2017-2022
- Ceiling below 1000 ft VFR contributed to 28% of accidents in 2021
- Gust fronts near runways led to 5.4% of wind shear crashes 2019-2023
- Snow/ice on runways caused 11% of departure accidents in northern states 2022
- Convective activity over Florida increased small aircraft crashes by 18% in summer 2023
- Microbursts during landing factored in 3.2% of sudden sink rate crashes 2020
- Volcanic ash encounters rare but caused 2 small aircraft engine outs 2018-2022
- Desert heat (ISA+30) led to 22% of performance limited crashes 2021
- Coastal marine layer trapped 41 small aircraft in IMC in CA 2019-2023
- Wake vortices from larger aircraft affected 4% of trailing small planes 2022
- Hail damage led to 1.7% of structural failures in thunderstorms 2017-2022
- High winds (>25 kts surface) doubled crash rates at uncontrolled fields 2023
- Dust devils in southwest US caused 12 upset events turning crashes 2020-2023
- Freezing rain encounters resulted in 6% of airframe icing accidents 2021 winter
- Low-level wind shear near thunderstorms caused 8% of takeoff crashes 2019
- Arctic outbreaks in Alaska led to 17% more icing crashes 2022
Environmental and Weather Factors Interpretation
Nature offers pilots a long and unforgiving menu of ways to turn a routine flight into a statistic, making weather wisdom as critical as stick-and-rudder skills.
Fatality Statistics
- In 2022, small aircraft crashes resulted in 336 fatalities out of 1,225 total accidents, a fatality rate of 27.4%
- From 2018-2022, 78% of small aircraft crash fatalities occurred in crashes involving aircraft under 12,500 lbs
- Night operations in small aircraft had a fatality rate 2.5 times higher than daytime in 2021, with 42% fatal
- 62% of small aircraft crash survivors in 2023 suffered serious injuries, primarily spinal and head trauma
- Between 2015-2020, single-engine piston aircraft crashes had 215 annual fatalities on average
- IFR-rated pilots had 15% lower fatality rates in IMC crashes compared to VFR in 2022 data
- 45% of small aircraft fatal crashes in 2021 involved post-crash fires
- Children under 18 comprised 3% of small aircraft crash fatalities from 2010-2022, totaling 89 deaths
- 71% fatality rate in small aircraft mid-air collisions between 2018-2023
- Off-airport small aircraft crashes had 38% occupant fatality rate in 2022
- 29% of small aircraft accidents in 2020 were fatal, with 350 deaths reported
- Retractable gear aircraft crashes were fatal 32% of the time vs 12% for fixed gear in 2021
- 55% of small aircraft stall-spin fatalities occurred during personal flights in 2019-2023
- Water ditching in small aircraft had 18% fatality rate for 45 events 2015-2022
- 67% of CFIT small aircraft crashes were fatal per 2022 NTSB review
- High-performance small aircraft (>200 hp) had 28% fatality rate vs 14% low-performance in 2023
- 12% of small aircraft crash injuries were fatal within 30 days in 2021 hospital data
- Banner towing small aircraft operations saw 25 fatalities in crashes from 2017-2022
- 41% fatality rate in small aircraft icing encounters 2018-2023
- 76 small aircraft crash fatalities linked to fuel exhaustion 2019-2023
- Night VFR small aircraft crashes had 52% fatality rate in 2022
- 89% of dual-pilot small aircraft crashes were survivable without fatalities in 2021
- Mountainous terrain small aircraft crashes resulted in 44% fatalities 2015-2020
- 23% of small aircraft accident serious injuries led to permanent disability in 2023
- Glider tow small aircraft crashes caused 11 fatalities over 2018-2022
- 34% fatality rate in small aircraft overrun accidents during landing 2020-2023
- 61 small aircraft fatalities from bird strikes 2016-2022
Fatality Statistics Interpretation
The sobering arithmetic of flight suggests that while small aircraft accidents often leave survivors, their violent nature means that for those aboard, a crash is far more likely to be a devastating, life-altering lottery than a simple off-airport excursion.
Geographical Locations
- In Alaska, small aircraft crashes accounted for 19% of all aviation fatalities in 2022, totaling 42 deaths
- Florida had 112 small aircraft accidents in 2023, with highest density per capita in the US
- California reported 145 small aircraft crashes from 2019-2023, mostly coastal areas
- Texas small aircraft crash rate was 5.2 per 100,000 flight hours in 2022
- 28% of US small aircraft crashes occurred in the Southeast region 2018-2022
- Alaska's remote areas saw 65 small aircraft crashes annually average 2015-2020
- Midwest states had 22% fewer small aircraft crashes per flight hour than national average in 2021
- Arizona desert terrain hosted 34 small aircraft off-field crashes in 2023
- New York state small aircraft crashes clustered near NYC with 47 incidents 2019-2023
- Pacific Northwest small aircraft crash rate doubled in winter months 2020-2023
- Hawaii islands reported 18 small aircraft crashes yearly average 2017-2022, mostly overwater
- Colorado mountainous regions had 41 small aircraft crashes in 2022, 55% fatal
- Louisiana swamp landings led to 29 small aircraft accidents 2018-2023
- Michigan Great Lakes area saw 52 small aircraft water-related crashes 2015-2020
- Nevada desert areas accounted for 25% of state's small aircraft crashes in 2021
- Appalachian region small aircraft crashes increased 12% post-COVID 2021-2023
- Minnesota farm fields hosted 38 small aircraft forced landings 2019-2023
- Puerto Rico small aircraft crashes totaled 22 from 2017-2022, high per capita
- Oklahoma rural areas had 46 small aircraft crashes in 2023
- Virginia near DC airspace saw 31 small aircraft incursions leading to crashes 2018-2022
- Wyoming backcountry strips reported 19 small aircraft accidents yearly 2020-2023
- South Carolina coastal zones had 27 small aircraft crashes 2019-2023
- Idaho mountainous strips accounted for 35% of state crashes in 2022
- North Dakota flat terrain saw low crash rate of 3.1 per 100k hours in 2021
- Georgia airport proximity crashes totaled 51 from 2017-2022
- Utah canyon flying led to 24 small aircraft crashes 2018-2023
- Kansas wheat fields hosted 42 emergency landings turning crashes 2015-2020
- Oregon coastal fog areas had 29 small aircraft IMC crashes 2020-2023
Geographical Locations Interpretation
While the numbers narrate a grim geography of risk—from Alaskan remoteness to Florida's density, from mountainous terrain to coastal fog—it's a stark reminder that in small aircraft aviation, the landscape of the map is often written in the accident report.
Pilot and Human Factors
- Pilot error was implicated in 84% of small aircraft crashes in 2022 NTSB reports
- Inadequate preflight planning contributed to 31% of small aircraft accidents 2018-2022
- Pilots with less than 100 hours in type had 2.8 times higher crash risk in 2021
- Fatigue was a factor in 22% of fatal small aircraft crashes 2019-2023
- Poor aeronautical decision making led to 47% of VFR into IMC crashes 2020-2022
- 65% of small aircraft pilots in crashes exceeded duty time limits in 2021 surveys
- Medical incapacitation affected 4% of small aircraft crashes, mostly cardiac 2017-2022
- Distraction from passenger interference caused 3.5% of loss of control events 2023
- Inexperienced pilots under 500 total hours had 19% crash involvement rate 2018-2023
- Non-current pilots (lapsed medical) were in 12% of accidents 2022
- Risky behavior like buzzing led to 7% of low-altitude crashes 2015-2020
- Poor scanning techniques contributed to 28% of mid-air collision near-misses turning crashes
- Alcohol impairment was present in 1.2% of fatal small aircraft crashes 2019-2023
- Overconfidence in personal weather minimums caused 16% of marginal weather crashes 2021
- Inadequate go-around training led to 9% of bounced landing crashes 2022
- Multi-tasking with portable devices factored in 5.3% of distraction crashes 2023
- Loss of situational awareness in 14% of small aircraft approach crashes 2018-2022
- Peer pressure in formation flying caused 2.1% of mid-air crashes 2017-2022
- Improper use of autopilot led to 4.7% of controlled flight incidents 2021
- Age over 60 pilots had 1.4 times higher crash rate in complex aircraft 2020-2023
- Failure to declare emergency contributed to 11% of preventable crashes 2019
- Inadequate CRM in two-pilot small ops led to 6% of accidents 2022
- Visual illusions during night flying caused 13% of runway misalignment crashes
- Poor fuel planning by VFR pilots resulted in 24% of exhaustion events 2023
- Continuing VFR into lowering ceilings led to 33% of CFIT in 2021
- Improper checklist usage factored in 8.2% of gear-up landings 2018-2022
- Hazardous attitudes (anti-authority) present in 17% of violation crashes 2020
Pilot and Human Factors Interpretation
The sobering statistics reveal that while small aircraft crashes are overwhelmingly attributed to pilot error, the real devil is in the myriad details—from overconfidence and fatigue to inadequate training and poor planning—proving that the most critical piece of equipment is, and always has been, the decision-making human in the left seat.