BUSHJEPPY
1st Jan 2005, 08:53
Press release: record low number of airliner accident fatalities in 2004
Date: 1 January 2005
the Aviation Safety Network / Harro Ranter
The Aviation Safety Network today released last year's airliner accident statistics showing a record low total of 425 airliner accident fatalities 1), as a result of 26 accidents. Africa still is the most unsafe region.
By comparison, the second-safest year, 1955, recorded 572 fatalities. With regards to the number of accidents, just one year was safer: 2003 when 25 accidents occurred.
The decreasing number of accidents is in line with the downward trend that started in 1989.
Despite the fact that 2004 was an extremely safe year, there is a reason for concern in Africa. It was again the most unsafe continent: 27% of all fatal airliner accidents happened in Africa, while the region only accounts for approximately 3 percent of all world aircraft departures. The moving 10-year average trend shows an almost continuous increase in the average number of fatal accidents for the last ten years.
On the other hand, trends show a decrease in the number of fatal accidents for North- and South America over the past six years and notably for Europe, with just one fatal accident last year.
Another area for concern are cargo plane crashes. Half (13) of all accidents involved cargo planes.
Last year’s accidents again highlighted the four aviation safety priorities, identified by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF):
* Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)
CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft under the control of the flight crew is flown unintentionally into terrain, obstacles or water, usually with no prior awareness by the crew.
CFIT accidents in 2004 were probably responsible for about 30% of all fatal accidents. .
* Approach and landing
Twelve accidents happened in the approach and landing phase last year. On February 10 for instance when a Fokker 50 crashed on approach to Sharjah when both props went into reverse, killing 43 of the 46 occupants.
* Loss of control
Again several accidents last year can be attributed to a loss of control of some kind. In January for instance, a Boeing 737 entered a high-speed descent with a extreme bank angle until it struck the sea off Egypt.
* Human factors
It's too early to tell in what cases flight crew actions were a causal factor in accidents in 2004. However the March 4 crash if an Ilyushin cargo plane was attributed to poor intra-crew communication.
Please bear in mind that human factors does not mean "pilot error"; in human factors it is important to determine which mistakes were made, why, under what circumstances etc.
The Aviation Safety Network is an independent organisation located in the Netherlands. Founded in 1996, it has the aim to provide everyone with a (professional) interest in aviation with up-to-date, complete and reliable authoritative information on airliner accidents and safety issues.
The figures have been compiled using the airliner accident database of the Aviation Safety Network, the Internet leader in aviation safety information. The Aviation Safety Network uses information from authoritative and official sources like NTSB, ICAO etc.
More information
http://aviation-safety.net
http://aviation-safety.net/pubs/ (ASN Statistical Summary 2004 - full report)
Harro Ranter
the Aviation Safety Network
e-mail: [email protected]
Date: 1 January 2005
the Aviation Safety Network / Harro Ranter
The Aviation Safety Network today released last year's airliner accident statistics showing a record low total of 425 airliner accident fatalities 1), as a result of 26 accidents. Africa still is the most unsafe region.
By comparison, the second-safest year, 1955, recorded 572 fatalities. With regards to the number of accidents, just one year was safer: 2003 when 25 accidents occurred.
The decreasing number of accidents is in line with the downward trend that started in 1989.
Despite the fact that 2004 was an extremely safe year, there is a reason for concern in Africa. It was again the most unsafe continent: 27% of all fatal airliner accidents happened in Africa, while the region only accounts for approximately 3 percent of all world aircraft departures. The moving 10-year average trend shows an almost continuous increase in the average number of fatal accidents for the last ten years.
On the other hand, trends show a decrease in the number of fatal accidents for North- and South America over the past six years and notably for Europe, with just one fatal accident last year.
Another area for concern are cargo plane crashes. Half (13) of all accidents involved cargo planes.
Last year’s accidents again highlighted the four aviation safety priorities, identified by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF):
* Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)
CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft under the control of the flight crew is flown unintentionally into terrain, obstacles or water, usually with no prior awareness by the crew.
CFIT accidents in 2004 were probably responsible for about 30% of all fatal accidents. .
* Approach and landing
Twelve accidents happened in the approach and landing phase last year. On February 10 for instance when a Fokker 50 crashed on approach to Sharjah when both props went into reverse, killing 43 of the 46 occupants.
* Loss of control
Again several accidents last year can be attributed to a loss of control of some kind. In January for instance, a Boeing 737 entered a high-speed descent with a extreme bank angle until it struck the sea off Egypt.
* Human factors
It's too early to tell in what cases flight crew actions were a causal factor in accidents in 2004. However the March 4 crash if an Ilyushin cargo plane was attributed to poor intra-crew communication.
Please bear in mind that human factors does not mean "pilot error"; in human factors it is important to determine which mistakes were made, why, under what circumstances etc.
The Aviation Safety Network is an independent organisation located in the Netherlands. Founded in 1996, it has the aim to provide everyone with a (professional) interest in aviation with up-to-date, complete and reliable authoritative information on airliner accidents and safety issues.
The figures have been compiled using the airliner accident database of the Aviation Safety Network, the Internet leader in aviation safety information. The Aviation Safety Network uses information from authoritative and official sources like NTSB, ICAO etc.
More information
http://aviation-safety.net
http://aviation-safety.net/pubs/ (ASN Statistical Summary 2004 - full report)
Harro Ranter
the Aviation Safety Network
e-mail: [email protected]