Definition
Recorded information from past aviation accidents and incidents, including causes, contributing factors, conditions, and outcomes, used by instructors and the aviation industry to identify risk patterns and shape training, safety practices, and human factors education.
Plain English
Information collected from real aviation accidents that shows what went wrong, why it went wrong, and what can be learned from it.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation safety discussions, instructor training, risk management, and accident-prevention material.
Derivation
Accident comes from a Latin word meaning something that happens or falls out unexpectedly. Data comes from Latin meaning things given. Together, accident data means the given facts about events that went wrong.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding accident data helps identify common errors and design better training to reduce future occurrences.
Grounding Statement
Accident data turns past crashes and serious mistakes into usable safety lessons for current pilots.
Intuition Check
Accident data does not mean guesses, rumors, or dramatic stories about crashes. It means recorded information that can be studied to find patterns and prevent future accidents.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor reviewed accident data on runway incursions before introducing the topic to the class.
Example Sentence 2
By studying accident data from similar aircraft, the student pilot learned to recognize signs of spatial disorientation.