U.S.-registered business jets experienced significantly fewer total accidents and fatalities last year versus 2012, but the number of fatalities in U.S. business turboprop accidents more than tripled year over year, according to preliminary statistics gathered by AIN.
There was no improvement in the number of fatalities in accidents of non-N-numbered turbine business airplanes over the past two years. Corporate jets on the U.S. registry were involved in 14 accidents last year, compared with 34 in 2012. Although there were six fatal accidents in 2013, which was one more than in 2012, the number of fatalities dropped to 17 from 24. All six fatal crashes last year occurred under Part 91.
According to the preliminary data, turboprops on the U.S. registry incurred 28 nonfatal crashes last year versus 37 in 2012, but 45 people were killed in 15 accidents last year compared with 15 fatalities in seven mishaps in 2012. Two of the fatal crashes last year involved on-demand Part 135 charter operations with the remainder occurring in private Part 91 operations.
Fractional ownership services continued their exemplary safety record, experiencing one nonfatal accident each year involving Part 91K jet operations and no accidents last year involving Part 91K turboprops. However, Part 91K jets did incur five incidents last year versus one in 2012. Part 91K propjets recorded no incidents last year compared with two in 2012.
In accidents involving non-U.S.-registered business jets, preliminary data shows six people died in two crashes last year compared with two killed in a single crash in 2012, all while flying privately.
http://ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainsafety/2014-01-20/us-business-jet-accident-numbers-plummet