No, it ranks as third deadliest, if the reported numbers are valid...
1. Inex Adria Aviopromet, 1981, 180 fatalities.
2. West Caribbean Airways, 2005, 160 fatalities.
3. Spanair, 2008, 140+ fatalities.
That would in fact make it the 4th deadliest (a bit ghoulish I know, this sort of "contest").
Third would be Northwest 255, Detroit, 1987, 154 fatalities on board, 2 on the ground. Cause of accident was failure of the crew to set flaps/slats for takeoff, and a few other holes in the swiss cheese that lined up to get them there.
That said, I was quite taken aback by this headline:
"Accident History Of MD-80 Series: The MD-82 plane that crashed in Madrid is part of an aircraft series that has a history blighted with accidents. "
from
Sky News
I guess it wouldn't do for a reporter to actually look up the facts before sensationalizing...
Fatal event rate per million flights:
Boeing (!) MD80/90 0.24
CRJ 0.24
737 all models 0.37
737NG 0.14
A320 series 0.15
737-300/400/500 (contemporary to the MD80) 0.20
Fokker 70/100 0.46
757 0.32
767 0.41
747 0.79
As at the end of 2006; I doubt the stats have changed radically since then.
just to give a random pick. The MD80 series thus compares well with its contemporaries. Source:
Airsafe.com
Beech