Accident Investigation under ICAO Annex 13: Objective, Responsibilities, and Rights

010-13-02Pablo Asensio Martínez2026-03-271 min

Objective of the Investigation

The sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident shall be the prevention of accidents and incidents.

  • It is not the purpose of this activity to apportion blame or liability.

Responsibilities

  • State of Occurrence:
    • Shall institute an investigation.
    • Is responsible for conducting the investigation (may delegate it).
    • Must notify the State of Registry, State of the Operator, State of Design, State of Manufacture and ICAO (if > 2,250 kg).
  • State of Registry:
    • If the accident occurs outside the territory of any State (e.g., international waters), the State of Registry assumes responsibility.

Rights

The State of Registry, the State of the Operator, the State of Design and the State of Manufacture shall each be entitled to appoint an Accredited Representative to participate in the investigation.