In Pursuit of Safety

ALPA’s Role as a Trusted Partner in Aviation Accident Investigations

When tragedy strikes in aviation, ALPA stands ready to support both its members and the investigative process. In the wake of recent accidents (PSA Flight 5342 near Washington, D.C., on January 29 and Endeavor Air Flight 4819 in Toronto, Ont., on February 17), the Association once again mobilized trained pilot volunteers and staff to assist authorities as they work to understand what happened and how similar accidents can be prevented in the future.

For decades, ALPA has played a crucial role in investigations by providing subject-matter expertise support to investigative authorities. The union’s trained accident investigators bring frontline operational knowledge and safety insight to investigations conducted by the NTSB in the United States and the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) in Canada, as well as to other accident investigation boards around the world.

ALPA’s subject-matter experts provide the line-pilot perspective to investigations and are integral to the fact-finding process. Their participation has led to significant safety improvements in everything from approach procedures to fatigue rules, training requirements, and aircraft systems design. But their involvement requires more than just technical skill—it demands dedication, professionalism, and deep respect for the investigative process.

The Association’s subject-matter experts understand that their credibility depends not only on their expertise but also on their discipline. That’s why the union maintains a strict policy of not speculating on the causes of an accident. This protects the integrity of the investigation and ensures that conclusions are based on evidence, not emotion or assumption.

“There’s always speculation about the cause whenever an accident occurs, but we must remember to let every investigation run its course,” says Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA’s president. “Our focus is to provide subject-matter expertise and follow the facts wherever they may lead. And after the conclusion of an investigation, we’ll work with other stakeholders, in both government and industry, to implement corrective measures to prevent future accidents.”

The Association’s ability to support major investigations didn’t happen overnight. It was earned over time through professionalism, competence, and a commitment to safety. In the U.S., ALPA has been recognized for decades as a valued party to NTSB investigations, a formal status that allows the Association’s subject-matter experts to participate in working groups focused on operations, human factors, ATC procedures, aircraft systems, and other areas in which their expertise can contribute to fact-finding.

The NTSB’s “party system” formally incorporates outside organizations into accident investigations. Parties are chosen based on their ability to contribute technical expertise and are expected to uphold confidentiality until the investigative agency’s final report is released.

ALPA’s accident investigation volunteers are carefully selected and trained through the union’s accident investigation curriculum and participate under the strict confidentiality rules set by the NTSB. Their task isn’t to defend individual pilots or airlines operations, but to ensure that the facts are understood in their operational context and that pilot expertise helps guide the process toward meaningful safety outcomes. They frequently participate in every phase of an investigation, from field operations to analysis and follow-up recommendations.

“The goal of the investigators from parties that are involved isn’t to investigate for the NTSB, it’s to supply subject-matter expertise for the investigation so that the NTSB can put together a final report,” says Capt. Steve Jangelis (Delta), the Association’s Aviation Safety Group chair. “We’re just there to assist, and we’re entirely at the direction of the NTSB throughout the whole process.”

ALPA’s participation in investigations in Canada differs from its participation in the United States. The TSB uses an observer system that’s typically more limited than that of the NTSB’s party system. Participation as an observer varies depending on the size and scope of the investigation, and the TSB investigator-in-charge decides how to utilize the observer. Regardless of the union’s status on an investigation, the Association will offer to support pilots through the TSB’s confidential draft report (CDR) process. The TSB provides organizations and individuals named in the final report an opportunity to comment and provide feedback prior to the release of the report. The TSB sends a copy of the CDR to these individuals and will adjudicate all comments, explaining which comments were accepted and which weren’t.

With regard to cross-border events, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Annex 13 governs the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents. It lays out global standards and recommended practices for how investigations should be conducted and provides an international framework within which national authorities like the NTSB and the TSB can operate. ICAO Annex 13 also outlines the conditions under which other foreign countries’ accident investigation authorities participate in an investigation. A participant under these provisions is called an accredited representative, and ALPA can request to participate as a technical advisor. Other typical technical advisors could be aircraft manufacturers, engine or equipment suppliers, regulatory authorities, or operator representatives. They may be invited to contribute based on their technical expertise, operational relevance, or jurisdictional ties to the event.

Over the years, the Association’s contributions have helped shape the follow-on activities of some of the most consequential accident investigations in modern aviation history. In some cases, ALPA’s involvement has led directly to changes in policy, training, and aircraft design. From the identification of communications issues on the flight deck and the development of crew resource management following United Flight 173 to the catastrophic in-flight breakup of TWA Flight 800 and the push for fuel tank inerting to the misunderstood approach procedures of TWA Flight 514, the union has been at the forefront and advocating for changes.

“The tragedy of Flight 514 was a turning point in aviation safety,” notes Capt. Wendy Morse, the Association’s first vice president and national safety coordinator. “ALPA’s involvement in that investigation underscores the Association’s commitment to understanding and addressing the root causes of accidents and solving for them. It highlighted the need for standardized approach procedures and better communication between pilots and air traffic controllers. That accident is a true example of how our procedures and checklists are written in blood.”

The Swissair Flight 111 crash off the coast of Nova Scotia led to improvements in aircraft wiring standards and material flammability. More recently, the union’s strong advocacy following the Colgan Air Flight 3407 investigation prompted a higher standard for pilot qualification requirements and crucial reworking of rules related to flight time/duty time and pilot fatigue issues (see “ALPA’s Pivotal Role in Accident Investigations” for more details).

Once the investigatory agencies publish their final reports, the Association works to educate members, influence policy changes, and ensure that the lessons learned are applied across the industry. As aviation continues to grow in complexity, the need for experienced, informed accident investigators will only increase. ALPA’s ongoing investment in training, its strong relationships with investigative bodies, and its unwavering commitment to safety ensure that it will remain a trusted partner in the years to come.

“We really strive to have accident investigation volunteers at every pilot group within ALPA,” says Capt. Jeff Perin (Spirit), the union’s Accident Investigation Board chair. “We want to make sure that the line-pilot perspective and operational expertise is always represented during the course of any accident investigation.”

This article was originally published in the June 2025 issue of Air Line Pilot.