scope:

This instruction provides policy guidance that is common to investigating and reporting all US Air Force mishaps. Four safety manuals supplement this AFI and provide detailed guidance to discipline specific mishaps. AFMAN 91-221, Weapons Safety Investigations and Reports, provides additional guidance for investigating and reporting nuclear, guided missile, explosives and chemical agents, and directed energy mishaps. AFMAN 91-222, Space Safety Investigations and Reports, provides additional guidance for investigating and reporting space mishaps. AFMAN 91-223, Aviation Safety Investigations and Reports, provides additional guidance for investigating and reporting aviation mishaps. AFMAN 91-224, Ground Safety Investigations and Reports, provides additional guidance for investigating and reporting afloat, motor vehicle, off-duty military, and ground and industrial mishaps. AFI 91-204 implements AFPD 91-2, Safety Programs, and DODI 6055.7, Accident Investigation, Reporting and Record Keeping. AFI 91-204 applies to commanders, managers, supervisors, and safety staffs at all levels, all persons who investigate and report Air Force mishaps, and those persons who handle such reports. This instruction provides guidance regarding the control and use of privileged safety reports and information. Failure to observe the prohibitions and mandatory provisions in Chapter 3 by active duty Air Force members, USAFR members on active duty or inactive duty for training, and ANG members in federal status, is a violation of Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Violations by civilian employees may result in administrative disciplinary actions without regard to otherwise applicable criminal or civil sanctions for violations of related laws. This regulation implements North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standardization Agreements (STANAG) 3101, Exchange of Safety Information Concerning Aircraft and Missiles, 3102, Flight Safety Co-operation in Common Ground/Air Space; 3531, Safety investigation and Reporting of Accident/Incidents Involving Military Aircraft and/or Missiles; and 3750, Reporting and Investigation of Traffic Incidents. Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained IAW AFMAN 37-123, Management of Records and disposed of IAW Air Force Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) located at https://webrims.amc.af.mil.

Purpose of Safety Investigations and Reports.

Safety investigations and reports are conducted and written solely to prevent future mishaps. Safety investigations take priority over any corresponding legal investigations, except Friendly Fire mishaps (paragraph 4.11.1.). Conduct safety and legal investigations separately to protect privileged safety information in the safety report. Privileged safety information will be used solely for mishap prevention.

Legal investigations provide a publicly releasable report of the facts and circumstances sur-rounding a mishap. Legal investigations may include a statement of opinion on the cause of the acci-dent, gather and preserve evidence for claims, litigation, disciplinary and adverse administrative actions, and for all other purposes. An Accident Investigation Board (AIB) is one type of legal inves-tigation and is convened for many space, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and missile mis-haps IAW AFI 51-503, Aerospace Accident Investigations. A Commander Directed Investigation (CDI) is another type of legal investigation that may be convened for mishaps.