Stabilized Approaches Among Top Focus Areas in NBAA’s Q1 2026 Bizav Accident, Incident Analysis
/The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently released its latest NBAA Business Aviation Accident and Incident Analysis, examining 40 business aircraft safety events in the first three months of 2026, including six fatal accidents.
The analysis – offered exclusively as a benefit of NBAA membership – highlights several common areas of focus for industry safety managers and experts.
“While investigations into many of these events are ongoing and probable causes have yet to be determined, the data already points to the need for strict adherence to stabilized approach criteria, as well as heightened vigilance and enhanced ground control procedures in the airport ramp and runway environments,” said Mark Larsen, CAM, NBAA director of safety and flight operations.
Compiled using detailed data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the web-based resource details 15 incidents and 25 accidents involving turbine-powered business aircraft during the first quarter of 2026.
Of the 25 accidents recorded:
Seven involved business jets, including one fatal accident in Bangor, ME
Ten involved business turboprops, including three fatal accidents in Haiti, Louisiana and Colorado
Eight involved turbine-powered helicopters, including two fatal accidents in Arizona and Hawaii
“We also continue to see common elements, including runway excursions and landing gear events, along with environmental hazards such as terrain and adverse weather conditions,” Larsen added. “NBAA encourages members to review this analysis closely, and for safety managers and training coordinators to incorporate these real-world operational challenges into recurrent training scenarios and upcoming safety reviews.”
Introduced last year at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the member-only NBAA Business Aviation Accident and Incident Analysis resource enables members to filter data by date, aircraft category and other criteria relevant to their operations, with access to 10 years of historical trend data.
The interactive platform also allows users to sort events by operation type, phase of flight and additional operational factors, with detailed charts and supporting data tables accompanying individual event reports.
Previous reports for the last two quarters of 2025 are available.
