{"id":1837,"date":"2025-12-11T16:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/?p=1837"},"modified":"2025-12-11T22:28:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:28:04","slug":"safety-in-numbers-trends-in-aviation-accidents-and-incidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/safety-in-numbers-trends-in-aviation-accidents-and-incidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety in Numbers: Trends in Aviation Accidents and Incidents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Every accident is preventable; the problem is that we don\u2019t know how to prevent it until after the accident happens. However, what we can do as an industry is honor the anguish of each event by sharing information, lessons learned, and outcomes to improve safety for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last 20 years, the entire air transport industry (commercial and business aviation) has improved data gathering through coordinated efforts to enhance global safety. Gathering and categorizing aviation statistics worldwide provides insight into pilot behavior and the relationship and understanding of the systems and aircraft they fly. This information can be used to bolster training and refocus on weaknesses within the aircraft system, on the pilots\u2019 ability to interact with their aircraft, or on both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye-Opening Numbers on Incidents Worldwide<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we begin by looking at the largest overview, there were 5,182 \u201coccurrences\u201d to aircraft and 1,274 associated fatalities around the world in 2023, according to the\u202fAviation Safety Network database<\/a>. It\u2019s a breathtaking number since we tend to be country-centric and don\u2019t hear about incidents in the rest of the world. However, using this data can help us track universal pilot behavior and understand accident trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is noteworthy that\u202f1.35 million people are killed<\/a>\u202for disabled in automobile accidents each year. That\u2019s 3,700 people per day. When analyzing aviation statistics, it\u2019s important to maintain perspective and recognize that, given the miles covered and the number of passengers carried, aviation is exponentially safer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defining and Categorizing \u201cOccurrences\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From minor incidents to substantial damage, each time an aircraft is operated outside its safety envelope, it constitutes a reportable \u201coccurrence\u201d (although many incidents are never reported). Categorizing events is also a lesson in grammar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It begins by understanding that an accident <\/em>is an event that has unintentionally happened and resulted in damage to the aircraft, injuries, or both. An\u202fincident<\/em>\u202fis an event that has also unintentionally happened and had\u202fthe potential<\/em>\u202fto cause damage or harm to life. Any accident or incident is defined as an occurrence, and each occurrence is assigned a category with a unique name and identifier, enabling the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to code and track threats to aviation safety worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything from a simple \u201cGround Handling (ramp)\u201d hangar rash incident to an \u201cAbnormal Runway Contact\u201d is put into one of approximately 35 categories. Within each category, variables exist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, TCAS Alert\/Loss of Separation is parsed into\u202fnear<\/em>\u202fmidair to midair collisions. It remains a single category, but severity is also tracked. The occurrence category design permits multiple categories so that you could have an engine failure, but also a loss of control. Multiple coding supports the primary focus of accident coding, but it sometimes skews root causes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leading type of occurrence is Loss of Control Inflight (LOC-I), followed by Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), which is primarily attributed to human error (rather than mechanical problems or weather). The conundrum is that, in a system error such as MCAS, the accident is classified as LOC-I. However, is the root cause lack of training, lack of system disclosure, a mechanical failure, pilot error, or all the above equally? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking Note of Turbulence<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the fastest-growing categories of incidents\u202fand<\/em>\u202fpreventable accidents is turbulence. It\u2019s one of the most significant causes of weather-related aviation incidents, and it\u2019s on an upward trend. Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science, told\u202fBusiness Insider<\/a>\u202fthat, \u201c\u2026since 1979\u2014when satellites first started observing the atmosphere\u2014clear-air turbulence has jumped 15%.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The article also states, \u201cIt\u2019s a problem that isn\u2019t going away. In 2017, Williams used climate model simulations to predict future turbulence. He\u202ffound<\/a>\u202fthat clear-air turbulence in the Northern Hemisphere could triple in the next three to six decades. And as emissions increase, so will overall turbulence. It\u2019s a vicious cycle that\u2019s ushering in a new reality for\u202fair travel<\/a>, which has already been plagued by problems since the pandemic hit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that technology is improving our ability to detect turbulent areas and wind shear, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s entirely avoidable. There will always be turbulence. The challenge is taking the numbers and educating the public that the seat belt sign can be a matter of life and death. If you\u2019re not in your seat or your luggage isn\u2019t secured, anything can become a projectile, which can also harm someone who\u202fis<\/em>\u202fproperly seated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data-Sharing Is Essential<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one likes sharing their mistakes with the world. All pilots fear the punitive fallout for admitting an error that could have caused harm. For professional pilots, acknowledging mistakes may also result in the loss of employment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, several aviation communities and foundations collect this information and keep it anonymous. We can all do our part by sharing information. Even if it seems like an isolated event, reporting it might reveal that it\u2019s not and that it could be a bigger threat. Speak up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are links for more information: 
Aviation Safety Network<\/a> 
Aviation Safety Reporting System ASRS<\/a> 
FAA Hotline<\/a> 
Whistleblower Info System<\/a>\u202f(not accident reporting, but if you see unsafe activities) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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References:<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Aviation Occurrence Categories Definitions and Usage Notes \u2013 October 2011<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Aviation Occurrence Categories Definitions and Usage Notes \u2013 October 2013<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Fatalities by CICTT Aviation Occurrence Categories<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Aviation and Plane Crash Statistics<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Be warned: Flights are getting bumpier<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Every accident is preventable; the problem is that we don\u2019t know how to prevent it until after the accident happens. However, what we can do as an industry is honor the anguish of each event by sharing information, lessons learned, and outcomes to improve safety for everyone.  Over the last 20 years, the entire air […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1837"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1841,"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1837\/revisions\/1841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aircrewacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}