Policy Text
Policy
433Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentAircraft Accidents - 1Aircraft Accidents
433.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide department members with guidelines for handling aircraft
accidents.
This policy does not supersede, and is supplementary to, applicable portions of the Crime
and Disaster Scene Integrity, Emergency Management Plan and Hazardous Material Response
policies.
433.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Aircraft - Any fixed wing aircraft, rotorcraft, balloon, blimp/dirigible or glider that is capable of
carrying a person or any unmanned aerial vehicle other than those intended for non-commercial
recreational use.
433.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Mountain View Police Department to provide an appropriate emergency
response to aircraft accidents. This includes emergency medical care and scene management.
433.3 ARRIVAL AT SCENE
Officers or other authorized members tasked with initial scene management should establish an
inner and outer perimeter to:
(a)Protect persons and property.
(b)Prevent any disturbance or further damage to the wreckage or debris, except to
preserve life or rescue the injured.
(c)Preserve ground scars and marks made by the aircraft.
(d)Manage the admission and access of public safety and medical personnel to the extent
necessary to preserve life or to stabilize hazardous materials.
(e)Maintain a record of persons who enter the accident site.
(f)Consider implementation of an Incident Command System (ICS).
433.4 INJURIES AND CASUALTIES
Members should address emergency medical issues and provide care as a first priority.
Those tasked with the supervision of the scene should coordinate with the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) before the removal of bodies. If that is not possible, the scene supervisor
should ensure documentation of what was disturbed, including switch/control positions and
instrument/gauge readings.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Aircraft Accidents
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentAircraft Accidents - 2433.5 NOTIFICATIONS
When an aircraft accident is reported to this department, the responding supervisor shall ensure
notification is or has been made to NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and when
applicable, the appropriate branch of the military.
Supervisors shall ensure other notifications are made once an aircraft accident has been reported.
The notifications will vary depending on the type of accident, extent of injuries or damage, and
the type of aircraft involved. When an aircraft accident has occurred, it is generally necessary to
notify the following:
(a)Fire department
(b)Appropriate airport tower
(c)Emergency medical services (EMS)
433.6 CONTROLLING ACCESS AND SCENE AUTHORITY
Prior to NTSB arrival, scene access should be limited to authorized personnel from the:
(a)FAA.
(b)Fire department, EMS or other assisting law enforcement agencies.
(c)Medical Examiner.
(d)Air Carrier/Operators investigative teams with NTSB approval.
(e)Appropriate branch of the military, when applicable.
(f)Other emergency services agencies (e.g., hazardous materials teams, biohazard
decontamination teams, fuel recovery specialists, explosive ordnance disposal
specialists).
The NTSB has primary responsibility for investigating accidents involving civil aircraft. In the case
of a military aircraft accident, the appropriate branch of the military will have primary investigation
responsibility.
After the NTSB or military representative arrives on-scene, the efforts of this department will shift
to a support role for those agencies.
If NTSB or a military representative determines that an aircraft or accident does not qualify under
its jurisdiction, the on-scene department supervisor should ensure the accident is still appropriately
investigated and documented.
433.7 DANGEROUS MATERIALS
Members should be aware of potentially dangerous materials that might be present. These may
include, but are not limited to:
(a)Fuel, chemicals, explosives, biological or radioactive materials and bombs or other
ordnance.
(b)Pressure vessels, compressed gas bottles, accumulators and tires.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Aircraft Accidents
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentAircraft Accidents - 3(c)Fluids, batteries, flares and igniters.
(d)Evacuation chutes, ballistic parachute systems and composite materials.
433.8 DOCUMENTATION
All aircraft accidents occurring within the City of Mountain View shall be documented. At a
minimum the documentation should include the date, time and location of the incident; any witness
statements, if taken; the names of MVPD members deployed to assist; other City resources that
were utilized; and cross reference information to other investigating agencies. Suspected criminal
activity should be documented on the appropriate crime report.
433.8.1 WRECKAGE
When reasonably safe, members should:
(a)Obtain the aircraft registration number (N number) and note the type of aircraft.
(b)Attempt to ascertain the number of casualties.
(c)Obtain photographs or video of the overall wreckage, including the cockpit and
damage, starting at the initial point of impact, if possible, and any ground scars or
marks made by the aircraft.
1.Military aircraft may contain classified equipment and therefore shall not be
photographed unless authorized by a military commanding officer (18 USC §
795).
(d)Secure, if requested