Aviation and Plane Crash Statistics

May 9, 2025 | Aviation & Plane Crashes

Aviation and Plane Crash Statistics

Air travel is widely considered the safest way to cover long distances, yet even the safest mode of mass travel carries risk. Understanding the risk starts with credible numbers. Below is a snapshot of recent accident data and an explanation of what those numbers mean for passengers and families in Harrisburg, PA.

How Common Are Plane Crashes?

In 2024, the International Air Transport Association reported seven deadly plane crashes, resulting in 244 deaths across 40.6 million flights, which equates to 1.13 accidents per million flights. This was a slight increase from 2023, which saw one deadly crash with 72 deaths across 32 million flights (1.09 per million). However, 2024 remained safer than the five-year average of 1.25 accidents per million flights. 

Despite these fluctuations, flying remains exceptionally safe—someone would need to fly daily for over 15,000 years to experience a deadly crash. In the U.S., the number of civil aviation accidents and fatalities has significantly decreased, with 1,216 accidents and 327 deaths in 2023, down from 1,277 accidents and 356 deaths in 2022.

By contrast, thousands of car accidents occur annually on U.S. roads. Harrisburg alone sees a high number of car accidents each year, whereas plane crashes are isolated events. So statistically, air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation.

Aviation Accidents in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has seen its share of aviation incidents over the years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regularly investigates accidents throughout the state, including recent incidents in the following places:

  • Lancaster, where aircraft have experienced emergency landings
  • State College, where a Cessna 172 landed in a field due to a medical emergency
  • Drumore, where a Mooney M20P landed in a field after the pilot reported engine issues

These incidents highlight that even in a relatively small geographic area, aviation accidents can and do occur.

Common Causes of Aviation Accidents

Multiple factors can contribute to aviation incidents:

  • Pilot error (a factor in almost half of all aviation accidents)
  • Mechanical failures, particularly in general aviation aircraft
  • Weather conditions and visibility issues
  • Air traffic control mistakes
  • Design or manufacturing defects
  • Improper maintenance
  • Regulatory violations
  • Runway incursions, or deliberate acts

Critically, takeoff and landing remain the riskiest phases of any flight, because those are the times when aircraft are low to the ground and crews have less reaction time.

Common Injuries After a Plane Accident

Commercial air disasters can claim dozens or even hundreds of lives at once. Even in smaller private plane crashes, occupants can suffer life-threatening injuries.

These incidents commonly result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, broken bones, and other trauma from the forces of impact. Such injuries can be life-altering, and victims may require extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation. 

Tragically, many plane crashes are not survivable, leading to wrongful deaths of passengers and crew. Families who lose loved ones in these accidents often pursue legal action through wrongful death claims if negligence contributed to the crash.

Why Statistics Matter for Aviation Accident Cases

Numbers do more than measure risk; they shape courtroom strategy. For example, in lawsuits after a plane crash (especially private or charter flights), defendants might argue that “aviation is safe” to downplay liability. However, showing how often general-aviation accidents happen compared to commercial flights can help a plaintiff’s lawyer show that the flight wasn’t as low-risk as claimed. 

Citing global safety improvements can also highlight where a particular operator fell below today’s industry baseline. Understanding all of this helps survivors and families pursue fair compensation after a tragedy in Harrisburg or elsewhere.

If you’ve been injured in a personal injury, please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:

Harrisburg Law Office
945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

York Law Office
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998

Wyomissing Law Office
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325

Chambersburg Law Office
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378

Carlisle Law Office
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732

Carbondale Law Office
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810

Lancaster Law Office
2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster Pa 17603
(717) 616-2954

Lebanon Law Office
937 Willow Street, Suite D Lebanon, PA 17042-1140
(717) 995-8963