Historic Reduction in Fatal Accidents of Experimental Aircraft, Reports EAA
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has announced a historic achievement in the safety record of experimental category aircraft. Over the past decade, fatal accidents have seen a significant reduction of 25%. The Federal Aviation Administration reported a mere 37 fatal accidents in the experimental category aircraft for the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. This figure includes 29 in amateur-built aircraft.
“FAA officials have taken notice of these improved safety figures,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “Agency officials have remarked to us how EAA’s programs have helped build the safety culture that leads to these positive numbers.”
The commendable improvement is attributed to EAA’s safety initiatives. These include:
- The Flight Test Manual
- Increased use of safety pilots during initial flight testing
- Regular safety webinars
The total fatal accidents were well below the FAA’s not-to-exceed goal of 46 for the period. This is a significant improvement compared to 61 total accidents a decade ago.