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 its innovative safety features and initially strong sales, Cirrus aircraft have a public perception problem due to high-profile crashes and show a significantly higher fatal accident rate (nearly 45% of accidents) compared to other general aviation aircraft.
The high fatal accident rate is largely attributed to pilot error, poor judgment, and overconfidence, rather than aircraft design flaws, particularly among less experienced pilots using the advanced aircraft for demanding cross-country operations.
Aviation insurers charge higher premiums for Cirrus models due to perceived risk, prompting the company to focus on improving pilot judgment and decision-making through enhanced training programs to reduce fatal crashes.

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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.