The Lemon Index
Photos: Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia (Wikimedia Commons)
76accidents
0%were fatal
0deaths
0%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Turbulence encounter43%
Tailstrike12%
engine(s) operating Ground collision5%
Cabin safety event5%
Ground collision5%
Abrupt maneuver5%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
6%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
94%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 33 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the power plant.
When. Phase of flight.
Enroute46%
Approach12%
Landing12%
Taxi9%
Standing8%
Accidents per year.
20082
20093
20102
20113
20124
20130
20141
20155
20163
20178
20185
20198
20202
20216
20224
20238
20245
20257
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