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; in 2008 Cessna 182s and Mooney M20s had slightly fewer accidents. The differences in rate between all models of aircraft, though, is very small. Analysis for other periods may well produce a different order.

Also, over the past few years Cirrus owners have consistently posted accident rates (accidents per 100,000 hours) below general aviation averages.

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.

Do your own analysis. Take the opportunity not only to develop 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 odds. Avoiding accidents involves staying away from practices that can lead to accidents. When it comes to your safety, you must 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 2007/2008 General Aviation Safety Record