The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute unveiled its 35th Richard G. McSpadden Report this week. Previously known as the Joseph T. Nall Report, it offers what the organization said is the most comprehensive look at general aviation safety and GA accidents in the United States. The latest edition analyzes data from accidents that took place in 2023, which is the most recent year with complete information.
The report’s newly updated format provides near real-time insights, with accident data refreshed on a rolling 30-day cycle and historical comparisons reaching back to 2008.
According to the report, general aviation logged 28.4 million flight hours in 2023, up more than 1.6 million from the previous year. The report logged 1,097 accidents, including 186 fatal accidents. It found that the overall accident rate declined to 3.86 per 100,000 flight hours, down from 4.3 in 2022, while the fatal accident rate dropped to 0.65 from 0.68.
Non-commercial fixed-wing operations accounted for the largest share of activity, recording 929 accidents and 156 fatal accidents. Landing events made up the highest number of total accidents, though only two were fatal, while takeoff and climb accidents showed a higher concentration of fatal outcomes. Fuel management accidents rose slightly to 108, with starvation edging out exhaustion, and weather-related events, including 10 VFR-into-IMC accidents, all of which were fatal.
AOPA said the McSpadden Report is designed for pilots, instructors, policymakers and others who rely on safety trend analysis to guide training and decision-making. Senior managers at the Air Safety Institute emphasized that the data helps identify areas where targeted education can reduce risk, including mechanical failures, which saw an increase in fatal accidents, and pilot-related factors, which represented about 70 percent of non-commercial fixed-wing accidents.
The Institute noted that early indicators from 2024 and 2025 suggest continued encouraging GA accident trends, though full-year rates will not be available until the FAA completes its annual activity survey.
Perhaps the increase in hours flown are by students learning in aircraft that are equipped with ADSB. Not the older private aircraft that are sitting in hangers that haven’t been flown in years. That’s just speculation on my part, but when i fly cross country on perfectly good VFR days, over airports with closed hanger doors, i might just be onto something.