Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 2-11: U.S. Air Carriera Fatal Accidents by First Phase of Operationb

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  1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total fatal accidents 6 4 4 1 4 3 5 4 1 2 3 6 0 2 2 3 2 1
Phase of operation                                    
Approach / descent / landing 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 (R) 1 0 0
Taxi/takeoff / climb 3 1 2 0 1 0 3 2 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 (R) 1 (R) 1 0
Cruise (in-flight) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 4c 0 0 0 0 0 0
Standing (static) 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 (R) 1 0
Maneuvering 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other / not reported 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (R) 0 (R) 0 1

KEY: R= revised.

2007 data are preliminary

a 14 CFR 121. Before Mar. 20, 1997, 14 CFR 121 applied only to aircraft with more than 30 seats or a maximum payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds. Since Mar. 20, 1997, 14 CFR 121 includes aircraft with 10 or more seats that formerly operated under 14 CFR 135. This change makes it difficult to compare pre-1997 data with more recent data.

b First phase of operation is the phase of flight in which the first occurrence leading to the accident happened.

c Cruise (in-flight) numbers for 2001 are unusually high because of the incidents occurring on September 11.

SOURCE

National Transportation Safety Board, personal communications, Jul. 6, 2004, Apr. 5, 2005, Apr. 25, 2006, Apr. 18, 2007 and Apr. 23, 2008