Accident Classification
Definitions
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) defines an accident as an event related to the operation of an aircraft. This occurs from the moment any person boards the aircraft with the intent to fly until everyone has safely disembarked. An accident is characterized by:
-
A person suffering fatal or serious injury.
-
Damage to the aircraft or structural failure.
-
The aircraft being missing or completely inaccessible.
Note: The following situations are not classified as accidents: experimental test flights, sabotage, hijacking, terrorism, or direct military action.
There are several methods to classify an accident, including the level of damage, the extent of injuries, or the cost of damages to the aircraft. Below are definitions used in various classification systems:
-
Damage
-
Destroyed: The aircraft is beyond repair, or the repair costs exceed 50% of its original value.
-
Substantial: Damage that negatively impacts the aircraft’s structural integrity or flight performance, typically requiring major repairs. Engine failures or minor damages like dents or bent skin do not count as substantial.
-
Minor: Damage that neither destroys the aircraft nor qualifies as substantial.
-
Injury
-
Fatal: An injury resulting in death during the accident or within 30 days afterward.
-
Serious: An injury requiring more than 2 days of hospitalization, including fractures (except for simple toe, finger, or nose fractures), injuries to internal organs, significant muscle or tendon damage, and serious burns.
-
Minor: An injury needing less than 2 days of hospitalization up to 7 days post-accident.
Accident Classifications
-
Hull Loss Accident: An accident where the aircraft is either not repairable or damaged without repair. This includes situations where the aircraft is missing or wreckage is inaccessible.
-
Major Accident: An accident meeting any of the following conditions:
-
The aircraft is destroyed.
-
Multiple fatalities occur.
-
One fatality with substantial damage to the aircraft.
-
Fatal Accident: An accident resulting in one or more fatalities among aircraft occupants.
-
Substantial Damage Accident: An accident where the aircraft experiences substantial damage.
-
Serious Accident: An accident meeting either of these conditions:
-
A single fatality without substantial damage.
-
At least one serious injury and substantial damage to the aircraft.
-
Minor Accident: An accident where the aircraft sustains minor damage.
-
Aircraft Incident: An event other than an accident that impacts or could impact safety operations.
