Charter Accidents Declined in 2009

Aircraft charter operations had fewer accidents and fatal accidents last year than at any other time in the past two decades, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. General aviation accidents decreased from 1,566 in 2008 to 1,474 last year, though the accident rate increased to 7.20 per 100,000 flight hours from 6.86 due to a decrease in total flight hours. Fatal general aviation accidents declined to 272 last year from 275 in 2008 and fatalities dropped to 474 from 494, though the fatal accident rate increased to 1.33 from 1.21, again because of fewer flight hours last year. Part 135 (charter) operations reported 47 accidents, down from 58 in 2008, and fatalities decreased to 17 in 2009 from 69 the year before. Despite lower flight activity last year, the charter accident rate decreased to 1.63 per 100,000 flight hours from 1.81 in 2008.