McSpadden Report Shows Decline in General Aviation Accidents for 2023

AOPA’s Air Safety Institute highlights encouraging safety trends, yet identifies critical areas that still require vigilance.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, November 24, 2025 at 01:45 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The annual Richard G. McSpadden Report’s accident summary for 2023 shows a few improvements and some surprises. [Credit: Creative Commons]

Key Takeaways:

The AOPA Air Safety Institute's 35th Richard G. McSpadden Report indicates an encouraging decline in general aviation (GA) accidents and fatal accident rates in 2023, despite an increase in flight activity.
The report identifies common accident factors, such as a downward trend in fixed-wing landing accidents (though "loss of control on the ground" remains prevalent), an increase in amateur-built aircraft accidents, and challenges related to fuel management and partial engine power loss.
For improved safety, the report encourages pilots to maintain vigilance in daytime VFR conditions, respect weather, and regularly practice emergency maneuvers and flight reviews with a CFI.

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Attention all flight instructors and aviation safety fans. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) Air Safety Institute has released the 35th Richard G. McSpadden Report—formerly known as the Joseph T. Nall Report.

The report was renamed to honor McSpadden, who was killed in an airplane accident on October 1, 2023. McSpadden devoted a good portion of his career to studying ways to make general aviation safer.