Alaska has the highest accidental death rate in the nation. A five-year study of Alaskan death certificates revealed that accidents accounted for 19% of all deaths and were the most important cause of death. Alaskan natives sustained an accidental death rate over 31/2 times the national rate, while Alaskan non-native rates were only moderately elevated above US mortality. Groups at greatest increased risk of accidental death in Alaska were males, natives, and native children In particular. Principal causes of acci dental death among non-natives were aircraft and motor vehicle accidents and brownings, while drownings and fires were the most frequent sources of native accident mortality. Lowest accident rates in Alaska occurred in the urban regions of the state, with higher rates in the rural areas, largely attributable to drownings and fires.