The Lemon IndexPlanes · Agricultural
Air Tractor (crop dusters).
Every U.S. accident NTSB investigated, 2008 to 2025.
Photos: MarcelX42 (Wikimedia Commons)
423accidents
20%were fatal
78deaths
11%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Low altitude operation/event20%
Loss of control in flight12%
Loss of control on ground10%
Loss of engine power (total)10%
Loss of engine power (partial)5%
Aerodynamic stall/spin4%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
18%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
82%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 284 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the engine (reciprocating).
When. Phase of flight.
Maneuvering55%
Takeoff18%
Landing10%
Enroute7%
Initial climb5%
Accidents per year.
200827
200924
201022
201128
201221
201327
201426
201518
201622
201725
201821
201921
202027
202122
202225
202319
202430
202518
More planes flying means more accidents, so counts aren't a safety score by themselves. Compare the shares above.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, U.S. accidents 2008–2025. ntsb.gov · Every plane
Updated