Accident and Incident Reporting Procedures

Definitions: Accident vs. Incident

An accident involves events resulting in serious injury, death, or substantial aircraft damage. A serious incident is an occurrence that could have led to an accident, while an incident is any event affecting safety but not meeting the accident or serious incident threshold.

Reporting Procedures

• The pilot-in-command must notify the operator of any accident or serious incident as soon as possible.
• The operator must inform the nearest appropriate authority and the authority of the State of the Operator by the quickest means available.
• A comprehensive written report must be submitted to the authority of the State of the Operator within 72 hours.

Investigation Objectives (ICAO Annex 13)

• The sole aim of accident and incident investigation is to prevent future occurrences—not to assign blame or liability.
• Investigations analyze causes, contributing factors, and systemic issues to improve aviation safety.

Mandatory and Voluntary Reporting

• Mandatory reporting covers a wide range of operational, technical, and ground-handling occurrences.
• Voluntary systems collect additional safety information, helping to identify hazards not captured by mandatory channels.

Role of Air Traffic Incident Reports

• These reports address events involving ATC or air navigation services, helping to identify and mitigate risks in these areas.

First Responder (PIC) SAR Duties

• The first aircraft at an accident scene should alert authorities, mark the site, and relay information to support search and rescue (SAR) operations.

Safety vs. Commercial Pressure

• Safety, such as proper de-icing/anti-icing, must always take precedence over time or financial considerations. The direct and indirect costs of accidents far outweigh operational delays or expenses.