Plane crashes in 1981

626 crashes worldwide in 1981, with 3,141 fatalities. Browse each accident by date, aircraft and location on the interactive map.

• Crashes: 626
• Fatal crashes: 370
• Fatalities: 3,141
• First recorded: January 6, 1981
• Most recent: December 31, 1981

Deadliest

1. December 1, 1981: McDonnell Douglas MD-82, Mt San Pietro, Corse-du-Sud, France (180 fatalities)
2. December 1, 1981: McDonnell Douglas MD-82, Mt San Pietro, Corse-du-Sud, France (180 fatalities)
3. August 22, 1981: Boeing 737-200, Sanyi, Miaoli County, Taiwan (110 fatalities)
4. August 22, 1981: Boeing 737-200, Sanyi, Miaoli County, Taiwan (110 fatalities)
5. November 16, 1981: Tupolev TU-154, Norilsk-Alykel, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia (99 fatalities)

Countries

• United States (246)
• Russia (60)
• Canada (39)
• Colombia (18)
• Mexico (18)
• Australia (16)
• United Kingdom (12)
• Kazakhstan (10)
• France (9)
• Argentina (8)
• Brazil (7)
• Venezuela (7)

Manufacturers

• Cessna (95)
• Douglas (60)
• Beechcraft (53)
• PZL-Mielec (50)
• Piper (48)
• De Havilland (40)
• Rockwell (39)
• Mitsubishi (25)
• Lockheed (24)
• Antonov (20)
• Boeing (20)
• Britten-Norman (14)

Aircraft

• PZL-Mielec AN-2 (50)
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (32)
• Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise (25)
• Cessna 402 (20)
• Piper PA-31-310 Navajo (17)
• Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair (16)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (16)
• De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (14)
• De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (14)
• Antonov AN-2 (12)
• Cessna 340 (12)
• Cessna 414 Chancellor (12)

All crashes (page 1 of 7)

• December 31, 1981: Cessna 340, Pueblo, Colorado, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Durango-La Plata County, Colorado, United States (4 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo, Punta Arenas, Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, Chile (0 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: Britten-Norman Islander, Angola (0 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: Douglas C-118 Liftmaster, Bahamas (0 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: Cessna 340, Pueblo, Colorado, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Durango-La Plata County, Colorado, USA, United States (4 fatalities)
• December 31, 1981: De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo, Punta Arenas, Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, Chile (0 fatalities)
• December 29, 1981: Avro 748, Sydney-J. A. Douglas McCurdy, Nova Scotia, Canada (0 fatalities)
• December 29, 1981: Avro 748, Sydney-J. A. Douglas McCurdy, Nova Scotia, Canada (0 fatalities)
• December 28, 1981: Cessna 402, Pullman-Moscow, Washington, United States (1 fatality)
• December 28, 1981: Cessna 402, Pullman-Moscow, Washington, USA, United States (1 fatality)
• December 23, 1981: Antonov AN-26, Yeniseysk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia (2 fatalities)
• December 23, 1981: Antonov AN-26, Yeniseysk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia (2 fatalities)
• December 18, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Deputatsky, Republic of Yakutia (Sakha), Russia (0 fatalities)
• December 18, 1981: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, San Antero, Córdoba, Colombia (13 fatalities)
• December 18, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Deputatsky, Republic of Yakutia (Sakha), Russia (0 fatalities)
• December 18, 1981: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, San Antero, Córdoba, Colombia (13 fatalities)
• December 16, 1981: Boeing 707, Miami-Intl, Florida, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 16, 1981: Boeing 707, Miami-Intl, Florida, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 13, 1981: Rockwell Aero Commander 500, Brazil (0 fatalities)
• December 12, 1981: Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840, Patterson-Harry P. Williams, Louisiana, United States (2 fatalities)
• December 12, 1981: Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II, Perryton, Texas, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 12, 1981: Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840, Patterson-Harry P. Williams, Louisiana, USA, United States (2 fatalities)
• December 12, 1981: Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II, Perryton, Texas, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 11, 1981: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), Guatemala (0 fatalities)
• December 10, 1981: Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair, Tyonek, Alaska, USA, United States (4 fatalities)
• December 10, 1981: BAe 125, Laredo, Texas, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 10, 1981: Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair, Tyonek, Alaska, United States (4 fatalities)
• December 10, 1981: BAe 125, Laredo, Texas, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 9, 1981: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Anamur, Mediterranean Region, Türkiye (5 fatalities)
• December 9, 1981: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Anamur, Mediterranean Region, Türkiye (5 fatalities)
• December 8, 1981: Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600), Sebastian, Florida, United States (2 fatalities)
• December 8, 1981: Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600), Sebastian, Florida, USA, United States (2 fatalities)
• December 6, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (1 fatality)
• December 6, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (1 fatality)
• December 5, 1981: Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States (11 fatalities)
• December 5, 1981: Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA, United States (11 fatalities)
• December 3, 1981: Cessna 402, Pacific Grove, California, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 3, 1981: Cessna 402, Pacific Grove, California, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• December 2, 1981: Douglas DC-4, Spence Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada (0 fatalities)
• December 2, 1981: Douglas DC-4, Spence Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada (0 fatalities)
• December 1, 1981: McDonnell Douglas MD-82, Mt San Pietro, Corse-du-Sud, France (180 fatalities)
• December 1, 1981: McDonnell Douglas MD-82, Mt San Pietro, Corse-du-Sud, France (180 fatalities)
• November 30, 1981: Piper PA-31 Cheyenne, Madison, Indiana, United States (0 fatalities)
• November 30, 1981: Douglas DC-6, Castries-George F. L. Charles (Vigie), Saint Lucia (3 fatalities)
• November 30, 1981: Piper PA-31 Cheyenne, Madison, Indiana, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• November 28, 1981: Fokker F27 Friendship, Kufra, Kufra, Libya (0 fatalities)
• November 28, 1981: Fokker F27 Friendship, Kufra, Kufra, Libya (0 fatalities)
• November 26, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Ust-Kulom, Republic of Komi, Russia (15 fatalities)
• November 26, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Ust-Kulom, Republic of Komi, Russia (15 fatalities)
• November 25, 1981: Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard, Les Adrets, Isère, France (0 fatalities)
• November 25, 1981: Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard, Les Adrets, Isère, France (0 fatalities)
• November 22, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Pago Pago, American Samoa (1 fatality)
• November 21, 1981: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Huehuetenango, Huehuetenango, Guatemala (4 fatalities)
• November 21, 1981: Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III, Shoshone, Idaho, United States (3 fatalities)
• November 21, 1981: Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III, Shoshone, Idaho, USA, United States (3 fatalities)
• November 21, 1981: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Huehuetenango, Huehuetenango, Guatemala (4 fatalities)
• November 19, 1981: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), Biratnagar, Koshi, Nepal (10 fatalities)
• November 19, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Fernandina Beach, Florida, United States (2 fatalities)
• November 19, 1981: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), Biratnagar, Koshi, Nepal (10 fatalities)
• November 19, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA, United States (2 fatalities)
• November 18, 1981: Cessna 425 Conquest, Natchez-Adams County (Hardy Ander Field), Mississippi, United States (1 fatality)
• November 18, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Wolcott, Colorado, United States (7 fatalities)
• November 18, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Wolcott, Colorado, USA, United States (7 fatalities)
• November 18, 1981: Cessna 425 Conquest, Natchez-Adams County (Hardy Ander Field), Mississippi, USA, United States (1 fatality)
• November 16, 1981: Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette, Lagos-Murtala Muhammed, Lagos, Nigeria (4 fatalities)
• November 16, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Aktyubinsk, Aktobe, Kazakhstan (2 fatalities)
• November 16, 1981: Tupolev TU-154, Norilsk-Alykel, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia (99 fatalities)
• November 16, 1981: Tupolev TU-154, Norilsk-Alykel, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia (99 fatalities)
• November 16, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Aktyubinsk, Aktobe, Kazakhstan (2 fatalities)
• November 16, 1981: Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette, Lagos-Murtala Muhammed, Lagos, Nigeria (4 fatalities)
• November 15, 1981: Cessna 402, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada (2 fatalities)
• November 13, 1981: Learjet 55 Longhorn, Waterkloof AFB, Gauteng, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• November 13, 1981: Learjet 55 Longhorn, Waterkloof AFB, Gauteng, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• November 10, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Ukhta, Republic of Komi, Russia (0 fatalities)
• November 10, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Ukhta, Republic of Komi, Russia (0 fatalities)
• November 9, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Sennar, Sennar, Sudan (0 fatalities)
• November 9, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Sennar, Sennar, Sudan (0 fatalities)
• November 8, 1981: Douglas DC-9, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico (18 fatalities)
• November 8, 1981: Rockwell Shrike Commander 500, Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia (1 fatality)
• November 8, 1981: Douglas DC-9, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico (18 fatalities)
• November 8, 1981: Rockwell Shrike Commander 500, Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia (1 fatality)
• November 7, 1981: Rockwell Grand Commander 680, Savoonga, Alaska, United States (1 fatality)
• November 7, 1981: Rockwell Grand Commander 680, Savoonga, Alaska, USA, United States (1 fatality)
• November 6, 1981: Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair, Skwentna, Alaska, United States (2 fatalities)
• November 6, 1981: Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair, Skwentna, Alaska, USA, United States (2 fatalities)
• November 5, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Saratoga-Shively Field, Wyoming, United States (2 fatalities)
• November 5, 1981: Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise, Saratoga-Shively Field, Wyoming, USA, United States (2 fatalities)
• November 4, 1981: De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, Cartwright, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada (0 fatalities)
• November 4, 1981: De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, Cartwright, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada (0 fatalities)
• October 31, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Sükhbaatar, Selenge, Mongolia (0 fatalities)
• October 31, 1981: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, Bafoussam-Bamougoum, West, Cameroon (1 fatality)
• October 31, 1981: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Sükhbaatar, Selenge, Mongolia (0 fatalities)
• October 31, 1981: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, Bafoussam-Bamougoum, West, Cameroon (1 fatality)
• October 30, 1981: Cessna 414 Chancellor, Barkerville-Wells, British Columbia, Canada (4 fatalities)
• October 30, 1981: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Las Animas, Colorado, USA, United States (8 fatalities)
• October 30, 1981: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Las Animas, Colorado, United States (8 fatalities)
• October 30, 1981: Cessna 414 Chancellor, Barkerville-Wells, British Columbia, Canada (4 fatalities)
• October 28, 1981: Britten-Norman Trislander, Foya Kamala, Lofa, Liberia (0 fatalities)