Accidents involving the worldwide business jet fleet and U.S.-registered turboprops claimed the lives of fewer people in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, according to AIN research. Preliminary data shows the number of fatalities in turbine business airplane accidents dropped 37 percent, to 17 in the first three months of this year from 27 in the same period last year.
Business jets on the U.S. registry suffered no fatal crashes in the period versus two last year in which five people died. Both those 2014 fatal accidents happened during Part 91 operations. However, there were eight nonfatal accidents involving jets this year, compared with two last year. Of these eight nonfatals in the first quarter, six happened to Part 91 operators, and one each to Part 91K and Part 135 operators. U.S.-registered turboprops also had more nonfatal mishaps in the first quarter versus a year ago, though fatalities dropped to three this year (all the fatal accidents happened under Part 91) from 10 last year.
Non-N-numbered business jets recorded no fatal accidents in this year’s first quarter versus two last year that killed five people. The only class to have a rise in fatalities was non-U.S.-registered turboprops—14 people died in two accidents this year compared with eight souls in two accidents in last year’s first quarter.