News release

TSB releases preliminary 2023 transportation occurrence statistics

Gatineau, Quebec, 20 February 2024 — Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its summary of preliminary transportation occurrence statistics from 2023, which show accidents are below the five-year average across all modes

^* Does not include incidents reported to the TSB.

Air transportation

In 2023, a total of 1014 air transportation occurrences (accidents and incidents) were reported to the TSB, an increase of 14% over the previous year (893).

Of these occurrences, a total of 181 were aviation accidents, an increase from the 166 accidents reported in 2022, but 5% lower than the five-year average of 191. Nineteen of these were fatal, resulting in 33 fatalities compared to 24 fatal accidents and 34 fatalities in 2022.

Accidents involving commercial operators increased from 56 in 2022 to 78 in 2023, while those involving private operations (by recreational operators, holders of a private operator registration document, or others) decreased from 108 to 100.

Of the total occurrences, 833 were aviation incidents, which is an increase from the previous year (727) and above the five-year average (685).

See the data on air transportation occurrences in December 2023.

Marine transportation

In 2023, a total of 1031 marine transportation occurrences (accidents and incidents) were reported to the TSB, a decrease of 15% from the previous year (1212).

Of these occurrences, a total of 237 were marine accidents (199 shipping accidents and 38 accidents aboard ship), a slight decrease from 2022 (244), and 8% below the five-year average (258). Sixty-six of these accidents involved commercial fishing vessels, a decrease from the previous year (74) and below the five-year average (82).

Nine of the 237 accidents were fatal, resulting in 18 fatalities. Ten of these fatalities were from five accidents within the Canadian commercial fishing industry. Commercial fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations in the country. Commercial fishing safety has been on the TSB Watchlist since its inception in 2010.

Additionally, 794 marine incidents were reported, which is a decrease from 2022 (968) and below the five-year average (925). Most reportable incidents (80%) were categorized as “total failure of machinery or technical system.”

See the data on marine transportation occurrences in December 2023.

Pipeline transportation

In 2023, a total of 68 pipeline occurrences were reported to the TSB, unchanged from the previous year. No pipeline accidents were reported in 2023, compared to one in 2022 and an average of 0.8 per year from 2018 to 2022.

The 68 pipeline incidents in 2023 represent an increase of one from the 67 incidents in 2022 but a decrease from the five-year average of 85. Seventeen of these incidents involved a release of product, below the number in 2022 (25) and the five-year average (26). Fifteen of the 17 incidents involved a release of hydrocarbon gas and two involved a release of low vapour pressure hydrocarbons.

In 2023, “Pipeline contacted by object” was the category with the most reported incidents (17), above the 2022 total of 13 incidents and the five-year average of 12 incidents. Geotechnical/hydrotechnical/environmental activity, which had been the most prevalent incident category, was second in 2023 with 15 incidents, up one from 2022 but below the five-year average of 31 incidents.

See the data on pipeline transportation occurrences in December 2023.

Rail transportation

In 2023, a total of 1234 rail occurrences (accidents and incidents) were reported to the TSB, a decrease of 11% from the previous year (1382).

Of these occurrences, a total of 913 were rail accidents, a decrease from 2022 (1008) and 13% below the five-year average (1045). Eighty-seven of these accidents involved dangerous goods, a decrease from the 2022 total of 110 and below the five-year average of 115. Six accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release.

Of the 913 total accidents, 67 were fatal, resulting in 67 fatalities, two more fatalities than the previous year and above the five-year average of 63. Fifty-three of these fatalities were from trespassing accidents compared with 51 in 2022. Trespassing accidents remain the primary cause of fatalities accounting for 79% of all rail fatalities, followed by crossing accidents, which decreased slightly to 13 fatalities in 2023 from 14 in 2022.

There were 24 accidents involving an uncontrolled movement of rolling stock and 9 incidents of uncontrolled movement, compared with 37 and 9 respectively in 2022 and the five-year average of 41 and 14 respectively. The unplanned/uncontrolled movement of rail equipment was added to the TSB Watchlist in 2020.

Additionally, 321 railway incidents were reported, representing a 14% decrease from 2022 (374) but a 3% increase from the five-year average (312). A total of 161 of the 321 (50%) railway incidents in 2023 were categorized as “movement exceeds limits of authority” incidents, 27 more than in 2022 and 28 more than the five-year average of 133.

See the data on rail transportation occurrences in December 2023.

The statistics presented above reflect the information contained in TSB modal occurrence databases on 15 January 2024. Since the occurrence data are constantly being updated in the live database, the statistics may change slightly over time. The TSB will release its complete and final statistical reports for 2023 in late spring; these will include accident rates and a more thorough analysis of the updated data (which may vary slightly from this preliminary data).