WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal safety officials Tuesday said there were no major accidents and no passenger fatalities on scheduled U.S. airlines in 1998 -- the first such fatality-free year since the National Transportation Safety Board began keeping records.

While there were no passenger fatalities, one ground crew worker was killed when he inadvertently walked into the propeller of a Saab 340 in Memphis, Tennessee. Non-U.S. carriers had a total of 18 accidents in the United States resulting in 10 deaths.

NTSB officials classify aircraft as Part 135 aircraft (planes with fewer than than 10 passenger seats) and Part 121 aircraft (containing 10 or more seats). While there have been fatality-free years in the past involving the larger aircraft, 1998 was the first year with a clean record for both categories, the NTSB said. (Before March 1997, Part 135 covered aircraft with up to 29 passenger seats.)

The NTSB released the following data:

• Part 135 scheduled commuter airlines (fewer than 10 seats): The accident rate per 100,000 departures dropped from 1.219 in 1997 to 1.011 in 1998.

• Part 121 scheduled carriers (more than 10 seats): The accident rate per 100,000 departures fell from 0.444 to 0.413.

• Part 121 charter airlines (more than 10 seats): The accident rate per 100,000 departures increased from 1.276 to 1.763.

• Air taxis: Accident rates per 100,000 hours flown decreased in 1998 to 3.11, the lowest rate in at least 17 years.

• General aviation: Accidents in 1998 totaled 1,907, up from 1,858 in 1997. Due to an increase in estimated flight hours, the overall general aviation accident rate per 100,000 flight hours appeared to decrease from 7.29 to 7.12. The fatal accident rate declined from 1.40 to 1.35.

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