This study is based on 1036 accidents (of which 672 were survivable) that occurred between 1968 and 2007 involving large transport category turbojet and turboprop western-built aircraft operating in a passenger or passenger/cargo role.

Over the study period, there was a marked reduction in the total accident rate both for the world fleet and the combined U.S. and Canadian fleets. This reduction is apparent when the accident rate is measured on a per flight, per passenger, or per revenue passenger mile basis.

The survivability of accidents has also shown a marked improvement over the study period with a greater proportion of accidents being survivable and a marked increase in the proportion of occupants surviving an accident. These improvements are apparent in both the world fleet and the combined U.S. and Canadian fleets.

It would seem that fatalities attributable to impact represent a larger proportion of the total number of fatalities in survivable accidents than those that are caused by fire.