AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT CHECKLIST
Emergency Management / Incident Commander
 
Planning:
 
Coordinate with local airport officials regarding types and number of aircraft using the airport.
Provide an avenue for airport officials to report ground accidents, take off and landing accidents, traffic pattern collisions, possible hijackings, or other aircraft related emergencies (i.e. 9-1-1).
Coordinate with Federal Aviation Administration officials for timely information regarding response to any aircraft accident scene involving civilian aircraft.
Coordinate with local broadcast media to ensure timely and accurate Emergency Alert System activation.
Conduct hazard analysis of vital facilities and the impact of an aircraft accident at or near one or more of those facilities.
Coordinate and plan at least one exercise (table top or practical) every six years, as a minimum.
Coordinate with schools, daycare centers, hospitals, etc. in the area in proper precautions and emergency actions prior to an aircraft accident.
Determine the availability of mobile and/or portable mortuary services.
Coordinate with the airline (if applicable) for response and information.
Coordinate with Red Cross, public agencies and/or the Salvation Army for shelter operations, as appropriate.
Establish or facilitate joint incident command with agencies likely to respond, such as fire departments, regional hazmat teams, rescue, mortuary, etc.
Ensure fire department personnel and other responders meet or exceed OSHA 1910.120.
Ensure responders are trained in aircraft accidents and victim extrication.
   
Response:
 
Identify immediate response requirements.
Immediately carry out those action requirements necessary to preserve life and/or property, including the deployment of required resources.
Activate the EOC as appropriate.
Organize or establish the EOC, based on operational procedure. or guidelines.
Issue alert and warning based on operational procedure or guidelines, as warranted.
Establish communications with responding agencies.
Through communications with responding agencies determine as quickly as possible:
 
The location of any established command post:
  Has incident command been established? If not, establish incident command.
  Has the incident commander been appointed or assumed command? Who is it?
  Have incident communications been fully established?
What is the two way radio frequency being used by incident command?
Number of killed or injured.
General boundary of the affected area.
The general extent of damages.
The general extent of power or other utility disruption.
Immediate needs of response forces.
If voluntary evacuations of the population have begun.
Location of any triage area.
Location of any congregate care area established or ad hoc.
Evaluate overall situation based on incident information.
Establish communications with the State.
Establish communications with the Federal Aviation Administration and/or NTSB as appropriate. If military, establish communications with the appropriate military branch.
 
Notation: Military aircraft accidents / incidents fall within the jurisdiction of military response personnel. Appropriate or even extraordinary security measures may be requested or required in the interest of national security. Unexploded ordnance may present extreme hazards to civilians and response personnel. Unless otherwise informed, all military aircraft should be presumed as carrying ordnance.

 Notation:  It is advisable to note the pilot is always in command of the aircraft and the aircraft is his / her responsibility, even after an accident, until the pilot is duly and properly relieved of that responsibility by the owner, company agent, or military branch as appropriate.
 
Establish communications with and request a liaison from the airline, airport, or military if appropriate to do so.
Establish ongoing reporting from the response forces, responding private agencies and utilities, as appropriate.
Coordinate with Red Cross (or designated lead agency) the opening of appropriate number of shelters in the appropriate areas, based on shelter procedure or guideline.
On order, evacuate affected areas with assistance from response forces.
Conduct first staff briefing as soon as practical after EOC / Command post activation.
Activate or establish rumor control through the public information officer (PIO).
Establish a schedule for briefings.
Brief city/county/agency/utility executives.
Provide PIO with updated information.
Provide response forces with all updated information, as appropriate.
Cause public information to be released, via the public information officer (PIO) as soon as practical, in coordination with airline, airport or military officials.
Issue action guidance as appropriate.
Establish 24/7 duty roster for the EOC and/or command post.
Develop and post any required maps or diagrams.
Activate an events log.
Ensure all appropriate forms (ICS) are being used to track personnel and resources.
Review and follow resource procurement procedure or guideline.
Inventory additional resources that may be used or called upon for use.
Activate formal resource request procedure or guideline and resource tracking.
Coordinate all local resource requests as well as those being forwarded to the State.

Activate financial tracking, coordinated by the Finance Officer, as appropriate.
Activate damage assessment and follow damage assessment guidance.
Develop a 12 hour incident action plan outlining actions that must be accomplished in the next 12 hours, if required.
Conduct a "second shift" or relieving shift briefing, if you are being relieved.
Discuss with and present to your relief, the incident action plan for the next 12 hours, if required.
 
Recovery:
 
Gather damage assessment information (public, housing, business) from damage assessment teams.
Obtain information from Red Cross (or organization responsible for shelter operations) regarding number of shelterees and the support required or necessary for continued operation, if any.
Obtain from Red Cross (or other organization responsible for shelter operations) an estimated duration period for continued shelter operations, if any.
Obtain information from airline or airport regarding safety, debris removal, notifications to family, etc.
Assess citizen / community needs for individual assistance and/or public assistance if applicable.
Activate local unmet needs committee if appropriate.
Gather financial information from the Finance Officer.
As appropriate gather additional information to include:
 
Personnel that responded and the time involved in the response.
Time sheets or time logs.
Supplies used.
Contracts issued.
Purchase orders issued.
Any other expenditures.
Damages to public buildings, equipment, utilities, etc.
Loss of life or injury of any responder.
Documents regarding economic impact.
 
Notation: Most costs associated with an aircraft accident are borne by the airline, the aircraft owner or pilot in command and are billable as such. Such items as volunteer response, if not a contracted service (i.e., volunteer fire department personnel) may not be reimbursable.
 
Develop or generate reports for the following, as appropriate:
 
FAA / NTSB
State
Local elected officials
County/City /Town Managers
Others requiring or requesting reports
Coordinate recovery organizations including federal and state agencies and private or volunteer relief organizations.
Ensure public officials are made aware of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Perform an incident critique as soon as possible with all possible response organizations.
Review agency and self performance.
Review the weaknesses of the plan.
Correct weaknesses.
Implement hazard mitigation or modify hazard mitigation plan accordingly.
Brief elected officials with updated information and disaster recovery progress.
   
*** End Aircraft Accident Checklist ***
Last updated: May 08, 2008