Which ISB data collection activity is included?

• A. Identify Witnesses and conduct initial interviews
• B. Collect factual data
• C. Preserve mishap scene and evidence as is
• D. Protect evidence gathered

Answer: (A)

Identifying witnesses and conducting initial interviews is the first hands-on way to gather factual information about what happened. By locating people who observed the event and talking to them soon after the mishap, investigators obtain firsthand accounts that establish the sequence of events, conditions, actions taken, and potential data sources to pursue next. Early interviews help ensure memories are fresher and reduce the risk of later distortion, and they often reveal leads to other data such as logs, recordings, or maintenance records.

Preserving the mishap scene and protecting evidence are essential for maintaining integrity, but they focus on safeguarding information rather than collecting new data from people. Similarly, collecting factual data is a broader term, whereas identifying witnesses and conducting initial interviews specifically describes the data-collection activity used at the outset to acquire primary information.