AAIB Publications
Published 7 June 2018
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We produce several types of investigation report. You can search investigation reports on our website. We also produce annual safety reviews and safety recommendation documents.
Investigation reports
AAIB investigations are conducted in accordance with Annex 13 to the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation, assimilated EU Regulation No 996/2010 (as amended) and The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 2018 – or equivalent regulations for investigation in the UK Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies. More can be found on regulations here.
The sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident under these Regulations is the prevention of future accidents and incidents. It is not the purpose of such an investigation to apportion blame or liability.
Accordingly, it is inappropriate that AAIB reports should be used to assign fault or blame or determine liability, since neither the investigation nor the reporting process has been undertaken for that purpose.
Reports can be found using the search AAIB reports page.
Formal Reports
Formal Reports are reports on major AAIB investigations. The reports contain information that is published to inform the aviation industry and the public of the general circumstances of accidents and serious incidents.
The six most recently published reports can be found here.
AAIB Field Investigation Reports
A Field Investigation is an independent investigation in which AAIB investigators collect, record and analyse evidence. The process may include, attending the scene of the accident or serious incident; interviewing witnesses; reviewing documents, procedures and practices; examining aircraft wreckage or components; and analysing recorded data. The investigation, which can take a number of months to complete and will conclude with a published report.
Our Field investigation reports are published throughout the month on our website. The reports are also placed in a forthcoming monthly Bulletin, with the date they were originally published online.
AAIB Correspondence Reports
These are reports on accidents and incidents which were not subject to a Field Investigation.
They are wholly, or largely, based on information provided by the aircraft commander in an Aircraft Accident Report Form (AARF) and in some cases additional information from other sources. The accuracy of the information provided cannot be assured.
AAIB Record-Only Investigations
These provides details of accidents and incidents that were deemed to have little likelihood of identifying new safety lessons that would advance aviation safety.
They are wholly, or largely, based on information provided by the aircraft commander at the time of reporting and in some cases additional information from other sources. The accuracy of the information provided cannot be assured
The AAIB Monthly Bulletin
The AAIB Monthly Bulletin is published on the second Thursday of the month and it is a compilation of the most recently completed reports.
Bulletins published between January 2005 and present day can be found here.
Bulletins prior to 2005, can be found using the search AAIB reports page or the National Archive.
Special Bulletins
Special Bulletins are reports published during an accident or serious incident investigation to highlight the initial facts and where appropriate make urgent Safety Recommendations. These reports contain facts which have been determined up to the time of publication. This information is published to inform the aviation industry and the public of the general circumstances of accidents and serious incidents.
The ten most recently published Special Bulletins can be found here.
Safety Recommendations and Safety Actions
The reports contain Safety Recommendations and detail any Safety Action taken at the time of publication to improve aviation safety.
Responses to AAIB’s Safety Recommendations are published on our website under each individual investigation, this includes the responses, our assessment and for those issued after 2019, the action status.
Find out more about Safety Recommendations here.
Annual Safety Reviews
The AAIB Annual Safety Reviews include information on occurrences and the safety action taken or planned in response to AAIB investigations.