About Plane Crashed
Our Mission and Purpose
Plane Crashed exists to provide accurate, accessible information about aviation accidents and safety to the general public. Aviation incidents generate significant public interest and concern, yet reliable information often gets obscured by sensationalism, misinformation, and incomplete data. Our goal is to present factual, context-rich information that helps people understand the realities of flight safety, the causes of accidents, and the remarkable safety record of modern commercial aviation.
The site draws from authoritative sources including the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, International Civil Aviation Organization, and peer-reviewed aviation safety research. We believe that informed passengers are safer passengers, and that understanding aviation safety statistics helps put the very low risks of flying into proper perspective. While we document crashes and accidents, we equally emphasize the extraordinary safety improvements that have made commercial aviation the safest form of long-distance transportation ever developed.
We recognize that behind every accident statistic are real people, families, and communities affected by tragedy. Our approach treats these incidents with appropriate seriousness while providing educational value. The information presented here serves students, researchers, nervous flyers, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to understand how and why planes crash, and more importantly, why they so rarely do in modern times.
| Decade | Fatal Accidents per Million Flights | Fatalities per Million Flights | Improvement vs Previous Decade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.8 | 240 | Baseline |
| 1970s | 3.8 | 165 | 44% reduction |
| 1980s | 2.1 | 95 | 45% reduction |
| 1990s | 1.4 | 72 | 33% reduction |
| 2000s | 0.8 | 38 | 43% reduction |
| 2010s | 0.36 | 18 | 55% reduction |
| 2020-2024 | 0.27 | 12 | 25% reduction |
Understanding Aviation Accident Investigation
Modern aviation safety rests on thorough accident investigation and the implementation of lessons learned. When a crash occurs, multiple organizations spring into action. In the United States, the NTSB leads investigations of civil aviation accidents, while the FAA provides regulatory oversight and implements safety directives. Military accidents fall under separate investigative bodies within the Department of Defense.
Accident investigations can take months or years to complete, involving examination of flight data recorders (black boxes), cockpit voice recorders, wreckage analysis, witness interviews, weather data, maintenance records, and pilot training histories. Investigators reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident, identifying not just the immediate cause but all contributing factors. This 'Swiss cheese model' of accident causation recognizes that crashes typically result from multiple failures aligning—holes in different layers of defense all lining up simultaneously.
The findings from these investigations drive continuous safety improvements. The crash of American Airlines Flight 587, detailed on our main page, led to enhanced pilot training on rudder control and aircraft structural limits. The ValuJet Everglades crash resulted in new hazardous materials regulations and cargo hold fire suppression requirements. Eastern 401's crash fundamentally changed how pilots are trained in cockpit resource management and task prioritization. Each accident, tragic as it is, contributes to making future flights safer.
International cooperation in aviation safety investigation has become standard practice. The International Civil Aviation Organization establishes global standards for accident investigation, and countries routinely share expertise and findings. When a Boeing aircraft crashes anywhere in the world, American investigators typically participate. When an Airbus crashes, French authorities join the investigation. This global knowledge-sharing has accelerated safety improvements across all aviation sectors and national boundaries.
| Accident | Year | Key Finding | Safety Improvement Implemented |
|---|---|---|---|
| United 232 (Sioux City) | 1989 | Complete hydraulic failure | Redundant hydraulic systems, improved crew training |
| USAir 427 (Pittsburgh) | 1994 | Rudder control malfunction | Boeing 737 rudder system redesign |
| TWA 800 | 1996 | Fuel tank explosion | Fuel tank inerting systems required |
| American 587 (Queens) | 2001 | Composite structure limits | Enhanced pilot training on rudder use |
| Asiana 214 (San Francisco) | 2013 | Over-reliance on automation | Improved autothrottle training, low-energy alerts |
The Future of Aviation Safety
Aviation safety continues to evolve through technological advancement, improved training methods, and data-driven risk management. Modern aircraft incorporate multiple redundant systems, advanced weather radar, terrain awareness warning systems, and automation that assists pilots during high-workload situations. The introduction of ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) technology has improved air traffic control's ability to track aircraft with precision, reducing the risk of mid-air collisions and controlled flight into terrain.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are beginning to play roles in predictive maintenance, identifying potential mechanical issues before they become critical failures. Airlines now collect massive amounts of flight data from every journey, analyzing this information to spot trends, unusual patterns, or developing problems. This proactive approach represents a shift from reacting to accidents to preventing them through early intervention.
The human factors element remains critical. Crew resource management training, which emerged from accidents in the 1970s and 1980s, has evolved into sophisticated programs that address decision-making under stress, communication, fatigue management, and teamwork. Airlines now use advanced flight simulators that can recreate virtually any emergency scenario, allowing pilots to practice responses to situations they will hopefully never face in actual flight. This training philosophy—prepare for the worst, expect the best—has proven remarkably effective.
Looking ahead, the aviation industry faces new challenges including the integration of urban air mobility (flying taxis), increased use of autonomous systems, cybersecurity threats to aircraft systems, and managing safety as global air traffic continues to grow. The fundamental commitment to learning from every incident, sharing information globally, and continuously improving systems and training suggests that aviation will continue its trajectory toward ever-greater safety. Our FAQ section addresses many common questions about current safety statistics and procedures, while the data throughout this site demonstrates the remarkable progress aviation has achieved in protecting passengers and crew.
| Technology | First Introduced | Mandatory Implementation | Primary Safety Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Data Recorder | 1958 | 1967 (commercial jets) | Accident investigation |
| Ground Proximity Warning System | 1974 | 1979 (U.S. carriers) | Prevent controlled flight into terrain |
| Traffic Collision Avoidance System | 1981 | 1993 (U.S. commercial) | Prevent mid-air collisions |
| Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning | 1996 | 2005 (worldwide) | Terrain awareness with GPS |
| ADS-B Tracking | 2003 | 2020 (U.S. airspace) | Improved traffic surveillance |
| Runway Incursion Prevention | 2010 | Ongoing adoption | Prevent ground collisions |