Cirrus: A Sober Look

A series of accidents has tarred the reputation of what was supposed to be the safest GA airplane ever made. But is that an accurate picture? An honest look at the Cirrus accident record.

Editorial Staff

Friday, March 18, 2005 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Despite a public perception of being accident-prone due to high-profile incidents, Cirrus aircraft exhibit an overall accident rate that is comparable to or slightly better than the general aviation average.
However, Cirrus aircraft have a significantly higher fatal accident rate (nearly half of all incidents) compared to their peers, primarily attributed to pilot error, poor judgment, and overconfidence, rather than inherent design flaws.
This higher fatal rate leads to increased scrutiny and higher insurance premiums, with both insurers and Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier emphasizing that inexperienced pilots often misuse the aircraft's advanced capabilities, especially in challenging conditions.
To address these issues and live up to its promise of being a safety leader, Cirrus is focusing on enhanced pilot training aimed at improving judgment and decision-making, while needing to demonstrate a consistent decline in both overall and fatal accident rates.

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An Aviation safety Magazine Special Report

When Cirrus announced more than a decade ago that it would produce an airplane with a built-in parachute and that it would become the best-selling airplane of the next century, the doubters said the FAA would never certify it. And even if it did, Cirrus would never be able to sell such a crackpot idea. Of course, the FAA did certify the airplane and Cirrus briefly overtookCessna last year as the leading builder of single-engine piston airplanes.