BGA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION PROTOCOL – JUNE 2015
The AAIB investigate all fatal gliding accidents. Other gliding accident investigation is delegated by the AAIB to the BGA as described in a Memorandum of Understanding.
The aim of BGA accident investigations is to assist the BGA in managing risk and preventing accidents. 95% of potential fatal accidents in recent years stemmed from inadvertent stall/spin, collision, hitting high ground, incomplete rigging, winch cartwheels, tug upsets, and pilot decisions/training/supervision.
BGA accident investigation is approached at two levels:  Club level investigation of incidents and accidents leading to club recommendations to avoid repetition  selective BGA investigation of accidents/incidents which o endangered a 3rd party o had the potential to be fatal o resulted in serious injury o have safety implications for clubs generally o may influence BGA safety management priorities
The BGA will normally investigate all potential fatal accidents and all accidents involving visitors or other 3rd parties.
On deciding to investigate an accident, a BGA accident investigator will be allocated as follows;
 For serious injury accidents/accidents endangering third parties, the investigator will be appointed by the BGA chief accident investigator
 For other BGA accident investigations, the BGA Safety Committee will establish the appropriate investigator
The appointed/allocated investigator is responsible to the BGA chief accident investigator for timely contact with the relevant club/pilot/third party and for the conduct of the investigation.
The investigation should;  As a minimum include the background to the accident and the local operational practices and the training, knowledge, and competence of the accident pilot and other relevant participants. It will often be in these areas that early action may prevent a similar accident at another club.  Use whatever approach, eg email, meeting, etc is appropriate in the circumstances  Make use of expert input where appropriate.
All draft accident investigation reports will be copied to the BGA chief accident investigator prior to completion
All completed BGA accident investigation reports will be made available to the BGA safety committee and submitted to the BGA Executive Committee through the CEO prior to publication/general circulation.
As agreed by the Executive Committee on 3rd June 2015.