The Lemon IndexPlanes · Single-engine piston
Piper PA-12 / PA-22.
Every U.S. accident NTSB investigated, 2008 to 2025.
Photos: Huhu Uet (Wikimedia Commons)
361accidents
9%were fatal
52deaths
5%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Loss of control on ground35%
Loss of control in flight8%
Loss of engine power (total)7%
Nose over/nose down6%
Collision during takeoff/land3%
Fuel exhaustion2%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
15%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
85%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 249 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the landing gear system.
When. Phase of flight.
Landing48%
Takeoff12%
Enroute11%
Initial climb9%
Maneuvering8%
Accidents per year.
200829
200925
201023
201126
201226
201311
201411
201514
201612
201725
201819
201924
202023
202118
202221
202320
202416
202518
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