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 being designed with advanced safety features and having an overall accident rate comparable to the general aviation average, Cirrus aircraft exhibit a significantly higher fatal accident rate, with nearly half (45%) of all reported accidents resulting in fatalities.
This high fatal accident rate is primarily attributed to pilot error and poor judgment, such as controlled flight into terrain or inadvertent flight into adverse weather, rather than inherent design flaws of the aircraft itself.
Aviation insurers charge higher premiums for Cirrus, noting that the aircraft tend to attract newer, less experienced pilots who may over-rely on the aircraft's capabilities without adequate judgment for complex operations.
Cirrus acknowledges the challenge and is focusing on enhancing pilot training programs to instill better judgment and decision-making skills, aiming to reduce fatal incidents and improve the aircraft's safety perception.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.