The primary goal of the Aviation Mishap Safety Investigation is to:

The primary goal of an Aviation Mishap Safety Investigation is to identify contributing factors to prevent reoccurrence. This focus on prevention is fundamental because the ultimate aim is to enhance aviation safety by understanding what went wrong and why. Investigators analyze all aspects of the incident, including environmental conditions, operational procedures, equipment performance, and human factors, to draw comprehensive insights that can be applied to avoid future mishaps.

By identifying root causes and contributing factors, safety investigations facilitate the development of better safety protocols, training programs, and operational guidelines. This proactive approach to safety is essential in establishing a culture of continuous improvement in aviation, ensuring that lessons learned from past incidents lead to tangible changes that protect lives and equipment.

In contrast, determining costs associated with damages, establishing maintenance requirements, or evaluating pilot performance, while important, are secondary to the overarching goal of enhancing safety and preventing future incidents. These aspects may inform parts of the investigation but do not drive its primary objective.