| Scope and method of study. This research identifies, documents, and discusses the technical and social conflicts of aviation accident investigations. A combination of historical, developmental, and descriptive research methods were followed and an ethnographic technique was utilized to analyze the material. The study traced the development of aviation and the accident investigation process in the US from the early 1900s to the mid 1990s. The study was conducted over a four year period, during which a review of the literature and interviews with 120 individuals associated with the aviation accident investigation process were conducted. The author is a graduate from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Accident Investigation Schools, and two of the three civilian schools that taught this subject. The author visited and/or interviewed the staff of the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and the third civilian school. Input from NTSB, FAA, military and civilian attorneys was included. The author had previously conducted over 200 aviation accident investigations.;Findings and conclusions. Aviation accident investigations had played an important role in the development of the US air transportation system. Initially accident investigations were conducted to answer technical questions as to the "probable causes" of an accident. Over the past ten years, the public had developed more interest in the social aspect of accident investigations, that is answering the question of "finding fault." The schools that taught aviation accident investigation techniques, the government agencies that controlled the investigation process, and most investigators did not seem willing to recognize the social needs of the investigation process. The study identifies, documents, and discusses the technical and social conflicts of aviation accident investigation. Recommendations, which should reduce the conflicts between the technical and social aspects of the aviation accident investigation process, are suggested. |
