The Lemon Index
Photos: Diego Delso (Wikimedia Commons)
395accidents
16%were fatal
111deaths
10%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Loss of control in flight21%
Low altitude operation/event13%
Loss of engine power (total)5%
Loss of engine power (partial)4%
Collision during takeoff/land4%
Dynamic rollover4%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
13%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
87%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 252 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the engine (reciprocating).
When. Phase of flight.
Maneuvering41%
Landing15%
Enroute15%
Takeoff12%
Other5%
Accidents per year.
200818
200921
201016
201114
201223
201319
201424
201525
201615
201730
201825
201927
202019
202128
202228
202321
202422
202520
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