The Lemon Index
Photos: Acroterion (Wikimedia Commons)
125accidents
22%were fatal
75deaths
16%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Loss of control in flight10%
Landing gear not configured6%
Runway excursion5%
Ground collision5%
Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)5%
Turbulence encounter4%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
28%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
72%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 82 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the landing gear system.
When. Phase of flight.
Landing29%
Enroute25%
Approach18%
Initial climb8%
Taxi6%
Accidents per year.
200811
20099
20104
20117
20128
20134
20145
20155
20168
20179
20186
20194
20207
20218
20226
20237
20248
20259
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