Understanding Aviation Accidents
FAA regulations, Montreal Convention, and compensation claims
2026 Aviation Statistics
1,249
Accidents
349
Fatalities
$2,500,000
Avg Settlement
$175,800
Intl Limit
Accident Types & Avg Settlements
| Accident Type | Avg Settlement |
|---|---|
Commercial Airline Crash Major airline crash fatality/injury | $5,000,000 |
Private Plane Crash Small aircraft accident | $2,000,000 |
Helicopter Accident Rotorcraft crash or malfunction | $2,500,000 |
Charter/Air Taxi Crash Charter flight accident | $3,000,000 |
Runway/Airport Injury Ground-based airport injury | $800,000 |
Turbulence Injury In-flight turbulence injury | $400,000 |
Emergency Landing Injury Injury during emergency landing | $600,000 |
Accident Causes
- • Pilot Error: 53% of accidents
- • Mechanical Failure: 22% of accidents
- • Weather-Related: 12% of accidents
- • Air Traffic Control Error: 8% of accidents
- • Manufacturing Defect: 5% of accidents
Injury Severity Impact
- • Minor Injuries: 0.3x base settlement
- • Serious Injuries: 0.7x base settlement
- • Permanent Disability: 1.2x base settlement
- • Wrongful Death: 1.5x base settlement
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Based on FAA Accident Data 2026, NTSB Safety Statistics, Warsaw Convention, and Montreal Convention (SDR 175,800)