The Lemon IndexPlanes · Single-engine piston
Beechcraft Bonanza.
Every U.S. accident NTSB investigated, 2008 to 2025.
Photos: ZLEA (Wikimedia Commons)
679accidents
30%were fatal
380deaths
19%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Loss of engine power (total)17%
Loss of control in flight8%
Fuel starvation6%
Landing gear not configured6%
Loss of engine power (partial)5%
Loss of control on ground5%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
32%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
68%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 456 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the engine (reciprocating).
When. Phase of flight.
Enroute29%
Approach21%
Landing19%
Initial climb12%
Takeoff9%
Accidents per year.
200841
200949
201039
201133
201246
201339
201431
201552
201629
201724
201843
201943
202035
202140
202235
202339
202427
202534
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