The Lemon Index
Photos: Carlos E. Perez S.L (Wikimedia Commons)
84accidents
18%were fatal
32deaths
17%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Hard landing14%
Landing gear not configured12%
Loss of control on ground10%
Loss of control in flight8%
Abnormal runway contact6%
Landing gear collapse5%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
26%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
74%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 61 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the landing gear system.
When. Phase of flight.
Landing52%
Enroute18%
Approach14%
Maneuvering4%
Initial climb4%
Accidents per year.
20088
20095
20107
20111
20122
20133
20145
20151
20168
20176
201811
20197
20202
20212
20222
20235
20246
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