Cirrus Safety History

Cirrus is proud that our owners and pilots, supported by our service network, training network, owners groups and others, are establishing a strong safety record.

In 2007 it was second to none (figure 1). The differences in rates between all models of aircraft, though, are very small. Analysis in other periods will likely re-order airplane models.

Also, over the past few years Cirrus owners have consistently posted total accident rates (accidents per 100,000 flight hours) lower than general aviation averages (figure 2).

As cautioned below, though, even one accident can change a model's record. This effect would be seen if figure 2 looked only at accidents with fatalities. In 2006, the Cirrus accident rate would "blip" above background levels. Prior trends followed in 2007 and rose again in early 2008.

Discussing “statistics” always raises the specter, as popularized by Mark Twain, of, “Lies, damned lies and statistics!” Nowhere is this more relevant than in the context of aircraft accidents. These are few in number, with the worst accidents – those with fatalities - very rare indeed. The timeframe selected for analysis can grossly affect the outcome and even one mishap can skew accident rate information dramatically.

So do your own analysis. Take the opportunity not only to develop those statistics but to look at the reports of actual accidents (see sidebar for sources).

But remember, avoiding accidents isn’t about picking an airplane to play the odds. Avoiding accidents is about avoiding practices that can lead to accidents. When it comes to your safety, you have to decide if a particular aircraft is right for you. Not the numbers.

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation publishes an annual analysis of general aviation accidents (The Nall Report) . This is a valuable resource for anyone interested in aviation safety. It clearly brings out the practices that can lead to mishaps.

» The 2007 General Aviation Safety Record