Home
AC103-6
AC103-7
Accident Reporting
AIM
AeroMedical
Airport Security
Airport Markings
Annual Inspection
ASTM
Board Members
Contact NAPPF
Density Altitude
Endorsements
Flight Parks
Flight
Instruction
Flight
Instruments
Flight Plan
Formation Flying
Hints
History
Home
Insurance
Knowledge Test
LINKS
Light
Sport Aircraft Process
NAPPF UPDATE
Navigation
News
NOTAM
NPRM
Pilot
Privileges & Limitations
Pilot/Instructor Requirements
Part 103
Part 103 Preamble
Radio
Resources
Sectional Charts
Sport
Pilot Topics
TFR
Training
Training Materials
UltraFlight
Magazine
UltraFlight Radio
Visibility & Cloud
Clearance
Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI)
Weather
Weather Services
Home
NAPPF
Accident Reporting
Jim Sweeney, USUA and NAPPF Board Member
Jim Sweeney talks to us about the requirements to report aviation accidents and
incidents. He talks about the reporting differences between ultralights and
light sport aircraft. Jim also talks about how to determine what kinds of
accidents and incidents are reportable and how to make the report. The reference
for this discussion is
NTSB 830.
SweeneyCorp,
USUA, NAPPF
(Part 1) (8/15/06)
Jim Sweeney, USUA and NAPPF Board Member
Jim Sweeney talks to us about the requirements to report aviation accidents and
incidents. He talks about the reporting differences between ultralights and
light sport aircraft. Jim also talks about how to determine what kinds of
accidents and incidents are reportable and how to make the report. The reference
for this discussion is
NTSB 830.
SweeneyCorp,
USUA, NAPPF
(Part 2) (8/15/06)
Ralph McClurg, Sport Flight, Inc.
Ralph
McClurg walks us through the final steps to be taken in an ultralight aircraft
accident report. For information referred to in this segment,
click
here. For information about the AOPA air safety foundation,
click here.
www.sportflightinc.com (Part 3)
(12/2/03)
Ralph McClurg, Sport Flight, Inc.
Ralph
McClurg walks us through the steps to be taken in an ultralight aircraft
accident report. For information referred to in this segment,
click
here. www.sportflightinc.com
(Part 2) (11/25/03)
Ralph McClurg, Sport Flight, Inc.
Ralph
McClurg discusses the true purpose for aviation accident reports and what
information should be found in one. For information referred to in this segment,
click
here. www.ntsb.gov (Part 1) (11/25/03)
Text for the
Sound Clip
Call for and assist crash and rescue efforts as needed
Notify police if there will be a crowd
Secure the area -protect the scene. Use police tape if possible. Keep spectators far enough away to keep them from seeing blood and pain and details of the damage
Keep news crews at least 50 yards away -don't let them sweet talk you
Keep people from collecting souvenirs of the crash
Get witness' statements -keep them apart while they are describing it
Photograph everything -surroundings, flight path, impact areas, craft, damage to terrain, -use digital, video, and 35mm plus Polaroid -take plenty
Make a drawing of the scene with dimensions -show flight path, point of impact(s), and scattered pieces
Get help from other pilots to make sure you have the probable manner of crash
Collect evidence and write a report as if you had to go to court and explain it-you may!
Write a report. The intent of any investigation should be to find the cause of the crash and recommend/implement methods of preventing another. Make the report detailed enough to describe events before and during the flight, then why the flight terminated in a crash
Re-interview witnesses at 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days – memories may change and they may recall something later that they did not right after the crash
INFORMATION TO GATHER AFTER A PPC ACCIDENT
Pilot Information:
Name; Age; Gender; Height; Weight; Total logged hours in PPC; total PIC hours in
ANY aircraft; Total PIC flying hours in a powered parachute (PPC); Total flying
hours in THIS PPC; Total flying time for the day of the accident; Was the pilot
wearing {please describe type): a helmet, a flight suit, gloves, glasses,
goggles, etc.
Passenger/student Information:
Name; Age; Gender; Height; Weight; Total pilot-in-command (PIC) flying hours in
ANY aircraft; Total PIC flying hours in a powered parachute (PPC); Total flying
hours in THIS PPC; Total flying time for the day of the accident; Was the
passenger wearing (please describe type): a helmet, a flight suit, gloves,
glasses, goggles, etc.
Aircraft Condition Prior to Accident:
Make, model and serial numbers of the PPC craft and of the wing (parachute);
Date of manufacture for the PPC and of the wing (parachute); PPC craft and wing
colors; Any installed factory options; Any owner installed options (including
pilot/passenger communication systems); Approximate number of hours on the
craft, engine, and wing; Has this craft, engine and/or wing been involved in
another incident/accident (if so, describe); Inspectors best estimate of
condition prior to incident/accident (excellent, very good, good, poor, very
poor)
Field Conditions:
Field elevation; Type of runway(s) -(open field, dirt, grass, paved, etc.);
Length of runway(s); Direction of runway(s); Number and location of wind socks;
Obstructions (fences, trees, roads, buildings, etc.); General description of the
terrain
Weather Conditions at the Time of the Accident:
Temperature; Humidity; Barometric pressure; Wind velocity and direction; Type of
sky (clear, partly cloudy, etc.) Landing/impact Site Conditions: Terrain;
Vegetation; Obstacles (buildings, roads, Power lines, water, etc.)
Reports:
Pilot -Detailed report
Passenger -Detailed report
Eyewitnesses (be sure to get each eyewitnesses Name, Age, Flying experience)
Relation to pilot and passenger; Viewpoint of incident/accident; How much of the
Incident/accident did they observe; Their description of the incident/accident
from pre-flight to landing/impact; Their description of the weather conditions.
Their description of the events leading to the incident/accident {party, just
passing by, invited out, etc.)
Forms:
Were any forms signed? If so, where are they?
Recent flight(s); The incident/accident; The vehicle before and after the incident/accident; The landing/impact site including many angles of the vehicle and wing.
Incident Summary:
Take-off time; Take-off direction; Take-off gross weight; Take-off roll to
rotation distance; Compiled description of flight from take-off to
landing/impact.
Injuries Summary:
List any injuries suffered by pilot and/or passenger.
Vehicle Damage Summary:
List major damage (major damage is any part or component that is no longer
airworthy)
Probable Cause of Accident:
This is the inspector’s best determination as to probable cause of
incident/accident.
How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented?
This is the inspector’s best determination as how this incident/accident could
have been prevented.
Don’t be surprised if witness accounts vary widely – they almost always do. Separating witnesses so they don’t hear each other’s accounts really helps.
You are probably the expert at the scene. It is unlikely that anyone will have more expertise at the sport than you do.
Call the NTSB if there are serious injuries or death. They have experience and insights that no one else has.
Don’t jump to conclusions too early. Continue to investigate until you have all of the facts and data that are available.
It may be necessary to ask some very personal questions while the family is struggling with serious injuries or death of a loved one. Share in their grief or trauma. Be compassionate and kind – let them know that you are not being punitive. Make sure they understand that the investigation is to prevent repeat occurrences.
Someone must report the accident to the exempting agency. A phone call that the accident has happened should be made to them immediately if there is a serious injury or fatality. They may want to send someone to investigate independently. An effort should also be made to notify the manufacturer of the vehicle.