If there can be such a thing as a good year for accidents, 2011 was that year in worldwide commercial jet aviation.
The 2011 record showed reductions in two of the most serious accident types, runway excursions and approach and landing accidents. Runway excursions — veer-offs and overruns — occurred in 25 percent of the 36 accidents last year, compared with 33 percent of the 40 accidents in 2010. Approach and landing accidents represented 58 percent of the total in 2011, versus 65 percent the previous year.
Absolute numbers of these types of accidents were lower as well: nine overruns in 2011, 13 in 2010; 21 approach and landing accidents in 2011, 26 in 2010. The data are derived from Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ annual statistical summary.1,2 Airplanes manufactured in the Soviet Union or the Commonwealth of Independent States are excluded for lack of operational data.
Total accident numbers have been declining, down from 6…
