Image: Van’s
The rate of fatal accidents in experimental amateur-built aircraft dropped last year to the lowest rate ever recorded, EAA said last week. The annual activity survey conducted by the FAA shows the estimated number of hours flown in experimental aircraft rose from about 890,000 hours in 2016 to 950,000 in 2017. At the same time, the number of fatal accidents fell from 32 to 26, dropping the rate from 3.6 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours to 2.63.
“These statistics show that growth and safety are not mutually exclusive in our community,” Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety, said in a news release. While the progress is excellent, Elliott said, the goal is to continue to improve. “We cannot afford to be complacent,” he said. “EAA will continue to be highly engaged in initiatives and programs to enhance aviation safety.”
