Aviation Accident Investigator


Aviation Accident Investigation is one of the most important crash investigation jobs in the aviation field. These specialists are generally employed by the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) in order to determine what happened during an accident which involved an aircraft. Due to the brutal nature of such accidents, eyewitness reports are not very productive. Because of that, it’s especially important that the aviation crash investigator is summoned to figure out what exactly happened.

Aviation Accident InvestigattionAviation accident investigators are detective, who are specialized in getting to the bottom of airplane crashes. But their field of work is not limited to crashes or planes. Their investigations may include everything from helicopters to commercial airlines, hot air balloons and gliders.

They investigate anything which involves aircraft which could put people at risk. Aviation accident investigators’ mission is to find out what went wrong and caused the problem. They don’t try to blame or find fault, only to investigate the crime scene and continue specialized investigations in overhaul facilities, labs and offices until they determine what happened.

Degree Coursework

This degree provides students with the skills and knowledge to conduct an aircraft accident investigation accordingly to the recommended practices and standards, which are laid out within the International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention (2001) and with special focusing on:

  • Safety and health of others and themselves on an accident site
  • Preservation and collection of evidence
  • Scientific analysis of causes of accidents
  • Safety promotion and dissemination of findings
  • Preparation of practicable and defensible recommendations

The following generation of aviation accident investigators is going to have to be technologically advanced additionallyto having a well-rounded resume of flight experience.

Aviation Accident Investigators

The duties of all Inspectors are listed below:

  • Contributing to the timely publication of reports.
  • Conducting efficient and effective investigations in order to determine the causes of incidents and accidents.
  • Producing draft Safety Recommendations which are effective and well researched in reducing risk within the industry.
  • Enhancing international standards and of sharing knowledge incident and accident investigation.
  • Presenting and preparing evidence and statements at Coroners’ Inquests, Fatal Accident Inquiries and in other legal arenas.

Aviation Accident Investigation Field of Work

Aviation technology is evolving without breaks. New challenges are brought for investigators by new technology. As the aviation industry continues to widen, it keeps looking for ways to save money.

Aviation investigators have to use other tactics, which includes using the latest technology, such as inertial navigation (a computer navigation assistant which tracks without external references) and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.

An aviation accident investigator is also sometimes called an air safety investigator. These specialists report on, study and investigate airplane crashes in order to figure out why and how they happened. Aviation accident investigators are covering a large amount of areas and try to discover the core of accidents.

It’s done through various means including analyzing and reviewing maintenance and flight records, interviewing survivors, studying human performance operations and, issues examining systems, engines, other airplane parts and instruments, which includes flight recorders, operations, structures, power plant (engines), airports, aircraft performance (engineering), air traffic services, and cabin safety to figure out what exsctly caused an accident.

Airline safety departments have their own aviation investigators who often work with government teams at the accidents scenes. Airline-employed accident investigators carry out other safety-related tasks on a day-to-day basis and work within airline companies.

MSc in Airworthiness

The part-time program is especially useful to technologists and engineers who work in the airworthiness field of aviation safety, either in the industry or in a regulatory authority. The format is extra suitable for individuals who want to focus and enhance their knowledge in a structured part-time route still working.

Through a series of highly focused five-day modules addressing the key aspects of design, construction and maintenance of aircraft, the course takes a pragmatic and wide-ranging approach to aviation safety.

If you want to look into getting your training online and are interested in investigating accidents for a career, there are several schools, offering Aviation Investigation degree listed below:

  • DeMontford University
  • Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators
  • American InterContinental University

Featured Online Aviation Degree Programs

Everglades University

  • Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management
  • Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Technology
  • Master's Degree in Aviation Science

Liberty University Online

  • Bachelor of Science in Aviation

Lewis University

  • MS in Aviation and Transportation


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