Safety Publications/Articles

2010 Joseph T. Nall Report

Non-commercial fixed-wing flight activity decreased 10% from 2008 to 2009, while the number of accidents only dropped 5%, from 1,241 to 1,181. The number of fatal accidents and the number of individual fatalities actually increased slightly to 233 and 401, respectively, so both the total and fatal accident rates on non-commercial fixed-wing flights were up in 2009. Improvements in some perennial problem areas like fuel management and weather were offset by an increased number of accidents caused by mechanical failures. Non-commercial helicopter flights were the only sector that did not see a significant reduction in flight time; they suffered 13 more accidents than in 2008, but five fewer were fatal. Commercial operators, both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, had an excellent year, with a historic low of only six fatal accidents combined. Click here to download the entire report (PDF file — 3MB).

Nall Report Archive

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Updated February 18, 2010

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