Cessnas and Pipers. In fact, the top 15 aircraft models in total crashes are all made by those two manufacturers – and nine of the top ten are Cessnas. The Cessna 152 was involved in nearly 800 more crashes than any other aircraft.

In 2026, aviation safety remains extremely high, but statistics show that General Aviation (small private) aircraft are involved in roughly 78% of all crashes. Among commercial jets, older models like the McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90 series and early variants of the Boeing 737 (like the 737-200) have historically higher accident rates per million flight hours compared to modern fly-by-wire aircraft. Interestingly, 2025 and 2026 saw the first fatal incidents involving newer models like the Boeing 787-8, though these were isolated events rather than indicative of a fleet-wide flaw. It is critical to note that "number of crashes" is often tied to how many of that model are in service; the 737 is the world's most-produced jet, so it appears in more incident reports simply by volume. However, the safety-to-flight-hour ratio for 2026’s modern fleet (A320neo, 737 MAX, A350) is among the best in history, making commercial air travel statistically safer than almost any other form of transportation.