WASHINGTON D.C.– The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary aviation accident statistics for 2009 on Thursday, April 9, showing an overall decrease in U. S. civil aviation accidents that includes general aviation. However in Cape May County general aviation accidents and accident related fatalities have remained almost the same for the past two years.
The total number of U.S. civil aviation accidents nationally decreased from 1,658 in 2008 to 1,551 in 2009, according to NTSB statistics.
Accidents involving general aviation flights which are defined by the Federal Aviation Administration as all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, decreased from 1,566 in 2008 to 1,474 in 2009. There were 272 fatal general aviation accidents, down from 275 the year before. However, the accident rate increased to 7.20 per 100,000 flight hours in 2009 from 6.86 in 2008, due to the decrease in the number total of flight hours. Although fatalities decreased from 494 to 474, the fatal accident rate increased to from 1.21 to 1.33, according to NTSB statistics.
The total number of general aviation accidents in Cape May County decreased from 5 in 2008 to 4 in 2009. Total fatalities remained the same from 2008 to 2009. Two people were killed in both years.
Cape May County General Aviation Accidents in 2009
June 25, 2009, a 60 year-old Massachusetts man was injured when his Pitts aerobatic biplane crashed one quarter mile from the Woodbine airport.
July 17, 2009, a single-engine 1977 Mooney crashed at Ocean City Municipal Airport when the plane’s landing gear collapsed. The pilot and passenger were uninjured.
November 14, 2009, a Dennis Township father and son were killed when their Piper Arrow crashed in bad weather behind a residence on Petersburg Road.
November 22, 2009, a glider crashed on take-off at the Woodbine airport, the pilot was uninjured.
Cape May County General Aviation Accidents in 2008
May 31, 2008, a Pipper Warrior II impacts trees while landing at the Cape May County airport. The pilot was uninjured.
June 20, 2008, a Mays Landing man and his wife were killed when the Harmon Rocket aircraft they were flying in crashed while performing acrobatics over Belleplain.
July 4, 2008, a banner plan crashes in the marsh near North Beach Road in Middle Township. The pilot who was uninjured was rescued by a state police marine unit who witnesses the crash while on patrol.
July 26, 2008, a Pennsylvania man was seriously injured when the banner plane he was piloting crashed behind the Catalina Motel in Middle Township.
August 16, 2008, a P2002 Sierra sport plane crashed while attempting a touch and go landing at the Woodbine airport. The student pilot who was soloing at the time was uninjured.
