Bizjet Accident Rate Stable, Turboprop Mishaps Up

By Curt Epstein

July 10, 2008
Accidents, Safety, Business Aviation

Business jet accidents in the first six months of this year remained the same as during the first half of last year, while the turboprop segment saw a significant increase, according to statistics released by Robert E. Breiling Associates.

Part 135 jet operations improved, with 10 accidents in the first half of last year shrinking to four thus far this year. Fatal accidents dropped from three last year to just one over the six-month period, while fatalities saw a corresponding decline from 10 to three.

Offsetting this, corporate/executive jets experienced four accidents so far this year, including one fatal, against none in the first six months of last year. The turboprop segment suffered a major spike in mishaps as it experienced 24 accidents in the first six months of this year, compared with 14 in the same timeframe last year.

Fatal turboprop accidents doubled to eight so far this year, with deaths increasing from 10 to 14. Part 135 turboprop operators’ accident rates, fatal accident rates and fatalities all more than doubled in the same period year-over-year.

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