NTSB Archives

Football star Emiliano Sala’s death when the Piper Malibu he was flying crashed is raising safety issues days after a report cited pilot qualifications in a 2017 Learjet crash in the U.S.

A letter sent today by BACA, The Air Charter Association (of Europe), to its members is highlighting safety concerns in the sometimes murky world of private jet charter, which includes piston and turboprop aircraft in addition to jets.

This comes days after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said both pilots in the May 15, 2017 crash of a Learjet 35A during its approach to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey failed to follow company standard operating procedures. Both pilots died and there were no passengers onboard.

Teterboro crash pilot not qualified

Continue reading “Deadly Charter Flights: An industry group is expressing concern about illegal charters a week after a troubling report on a 2017 Learjet crash”

Flying by private jet has never been safer, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

For the first time in half a century, the 2016 accident rate in general aviation dropped below one fatal accident per 100,000 flight hours. General aviation deaths decreased slightly, from 416 in 2015 to 412 in 2016, according to the NTSB. Some 94 percent of the 379 deaths occurred in general aviation accidents. Twenty-five people died in accidents in commuter and on-demand aircraft, including charter, air taxi, air tours, and medical services, operating under Part 135. The General Aviation decrease occurred while other forms of transport — cars, trains, and boats — all showed increases.