The Lemon IndexPlanes · Single-engine piston
Cessna 180/185 Skywagon.
Every U.S. accident NTSB investigated, 2008 to 2025.
Photos: ZLEA (Wikimedia Commons)
551accidents
6%were fatal
61deaths
2%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Loss of control on ground49%
Nose over/nose down5%
Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)4%
Loss of engine power (total)4%
Loss of control in flight3%
Collision during takeoff/land3%
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 387 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the landing gear system.
When. Phase of flight.
Landing58%
Takeoff16%
Enroute9%
Approach5%
Taxi5%
Accidents per year.
200836
200925
201034
201140
201228
201331
201422
201527
201630
201733
201837
201935
202036
202130
202223
202326
202429
202529
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