The Lemon Index
Photos: New York-air (Wikimedia Commons)
26accidents
4%were fatal
3deaths
4%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Turbulence encounter65%
Ground collision12%
engine(s) operating Ground handling event4%
Prior to flight Ground collision4%
Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)4%
Air traffic event4%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
0%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
100%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 11 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause.
When. Phase of flight.
Enroute58%
Approach15%
Taxi15%
Standing8%
Other4%
Accidents per year.
20081
20091
20100
20112
20120
20133
20140
20152
20160
20171
20181
20192
20201
20211
20222
20234
20242
20253
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