When / why did “by accident” become “on accident” and can we go back?

"via accident"

We say it that way by purpose.

I know it's irrational, but this drives me insane. First inflammable, then regardless, now this? [Insert Picard "the line must be drawn here" speech.]

When I was growing up (many, many years ago) that was the way children said it before they learned the more commonly accepted way. I'm fine with language evolving, but maybe we could do something about "based off of" instead of the simpler "based on"?

As a Latinist, it's all just ablative to me.

It happened totally on accident

It happened at age 5 or 6, IME

OMG. Thought it was just me. Lifelong ongoing battle with my kids. And they are young adults now.

By god, on god lol

The same people also say “should of” and it drives me nuts