The following information is excerpted from a study performed in 1997 by Kathy Lubitz for the Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada. The study examined all aircraft accidents in Canada during the 10 year period from 1987 to 1996. The objective was to compare the accident records of ultralight aircraft and general aviation aircraft. The conclusion was that ultralights have a demonstrably better safety record.

 
Study Of Aircraft Accidents In Canada From 1987 To 1996

The general perception is that ultralight activity is far more dangerous than general aviation activity. The purpose of this study is to analyze factual accident data that is available for both ultralight and general aviation aircraft in order to objectively quantify the safety records of the two categories.

There is no reliable source for the number of hours flown each year so the metric used is accidents per registered aircraft. This avoids the criticism that there are aircraft on the registry from both categories that are not being flown and affords an apples-to-apples comparison.


Accidents per Aircraft Registered - Ultralight and General Aviation

The table below shows total accident rates for both categories of aircraft.

 

 

Ultralight Accidents

Ultralights registered

Ratio - Number of registered ultralights per accident

Accident Rate per ultralight registered

General Aviation accidents

General Aviation Aircraft registered

Ratio - Number of GA aircraft registered per accident

Accident Rate per GA aircraft registered

1987

42

2949

1:70

0.014

472

22,270

1:47

0.021

1988

29

3105

1:107

0.009

497

22,469

1:45

0.022

1989

37

3211

1:86

0.012

482

22,463

1:47

0.021

1990

36

3363

1:93

0.011

498

22,278

1:45

0.022

1991

39

3477

1:89

0.011

453

21,973

1:49

0.021

1992

41

3607

1:88

0.011

435

21,795

1:50

0.020

1993

50

3744

1:75

0.013

422

21,452

1:51

0.020

1994

36

3840

1:107

0.009

380

21,212

1:56

0.018

1995

44

3956

1:90

0.011

390

21,169

1:54

0.018

1996

28

4070

1:145

0.007

335

21,089

1:63

0.016

Average

38.2

 

1:95

0.011

364.4

 

1:51

0.020

Accident data from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Registration data from Transport Canada Safety and Security

In 1987, there was one accident for every 70 ultralights flying which gives an accident rate of 0.014. In 1996 there was one accident for every 145 ultralights flying which yields an accident rate of 0.007.

Compare that to the figures for general aviation where in 1987 there was one accident per 47 aeroplanes, an accident rate of 0.021, and in 1996 there was one accident for every 63 aeroplanes flying, an accident rate of 0.016.

In the ten years covered by this data, the accident rate for ultralight aeroplanes is lower than for general aviation, in many years by half.


Fatal Accidents per Aircraft Registered - Ultralight and General Aviation

There is the possibility of unreported accidents for both ultralight and general aviation aircraft. To eliminate this a comparison was made of fatal accidents  since fatalities are always reported.

 

 

Fatal Ultralight Accidents

Ultralights registered

Ratio - Number of registered ultralights per fatal accident

Fatal Accident Rate per ultralight registered

Fatal General Aviation Accidents

General Aviation Aircraft registered

Ratio - Number of registered GA aircraft per fatal accident

Fatal Accident Rate 
per GA aircraft registered

1987

3

2949

1:983

0.0010

55

22,270

1:404

0.0025

1988

6

3105

1:518

0.0019

50

22,469

1:449

0.0022

1989

4

3211

1:802

0.0012

60

22,463

1:374

0.0027

1990

6

3363

1:561

0.0018

47

22,278

1:474

0.0021

1991

7

3477

1:497

0.0020

64

21,973

1:468

0.0029

1992

5

3607

1:721

0.0014

47

21,795

1:464

0.0021

1993

3

3744

1:1248

0.0005

48

21,452

1:447

0.0022

1994

8

3840

1:480

0.0021

33

21,212

1:643

0.0016

1995

8

3956

1:495

0.0020

52

21,169

1:407

0.0025

1996

4

4070

1:1018

0.0010

43

21,089

1:490

0.0020

Average

5.4

 

1:732

0.0015

49.9

 

1:462

0.0022

Accident data from the Transportation Safety Board
Registration data from Transport Canada Safety and Security

The accident rates for ultraights varied from a high of 0.0020 to a low of 0.0005. The rates for general aviation varied from a high of 0.0029 to a low of 0.0016.

Ultralight activity shows a much lower rate of fatal accidents than general aviation.
 

Conclusion

The data shows that accident rates for ultralights are lower than for general aviation aircraft. The data does not support the perception that there is more risk involved in flying ultralight airplanes than in flying general aviation airplanes. Conversely, the data demonstrates that ultralight activity is actually safer than general aviation activity.
 

Prepared by Kathy Lubitz, Dec. 1997

© Copyright Ultralight Pilots Association of Canada.