This year's first quarter was the deadliest for U.S.-registered business jets since 15 people were killed in four accidents in the first quarter of 2008. According to statistics gathered by AIN, in the first three months of this year 14 people were killed in three accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets. There were no fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets in the first quarter of last year.

The deadliest first quarter for U.S.-registered business jets in the last 16 years was in 2001, from a single accident. A Gulfstream III on a Part 135 flight crashed on approach to Aspen, Colo., killing all 18 persons aboard. In addition to zero fatalities in the first quarter of last year, the previous first quarters (over the last 16 years) with no fatalities were in 2009, 2004, 2002, 1999 and 1997.

Non-U.S. registered business jets had no accidents in the first quarter of this year. However, this group had six accidents in the same period last year, in which 12 persons died in three accidents.

U.S. registered turboprops suffered no fatal accidents in the recent first quarter compared to three in the same period last year.

Non U.S.-registered turboprops exerienced three  accidents in this year’s first quarter, in which 12 persons died. In last year's first quarter this group had four fatal crashes in which 21 persons were killed.