Secretary of Defense William J. Perry announced today that the Department of
Defense has completed one of its safest years on record. The accomplishment is
noteworthy in an era of increasing operational tempo, numerous worldwide
deployments, and continued restructuring.
Over the past year aircraft accident rates dropped from 1.62 to 1.51 per
100,000 flying hours. This translates into a decrease in destroyed aircraft
from 85 last year to 67 this year, representing a significant reduction in
aircraft losses and savings of millions of dollars to the taxpayer.
Of particular note, the Department of the Army's accident rate fell from 1.61
to .81 per 100,000 hours flown, a reduction rate of almost 50%.
Additionally, off-duty accidental military deaths, DoD wide, dropped from 385
to 374, a record low in fatalities. The largest savings in life has been in
privately owned motor vehicle accidents.
