NORFOLK

The Navy, Air Force and Army collect different information when they investigate why an aircraft crashes or has a problem, making it difficult for the Defense Department to compare trends as it works to improve safety and share lessons learned across the services, according to a congressional watchdog report.

There have been a series of high-profile incidents in recent years, including fatal crashes involving the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, and military officials are still grappling with oxygen deprivation problems in some aircraft.

In March, a Virginia Beach-based F/A-18 Super Hornet crashed near Key West, Fla., killing both men aboard.

The Government Accountability Office found that the Norfolk-based Naval Safety Center, Army Combat Readiness Center and Air Force Safety Center don’t collect standardized data as part of their investigations. The Naval Safety Center also handles investigations for the Marine Corps.

Specifically, the GAO analysis found that the safety centers don’t collect standardized data for between 10 and 17 of 35 agreed-upon data elements for investigations that were to be provided to the Defense Department, depending on the service. For example, the Naval Safety Center and Army Combat Readiness Center don’t collect data about which geographic combatant command the mishap occurred in.

The GAO also found a lack of consensus between the safety centers and the Defense Department on reporting data on human factors that may have caused a crash.

“Further, DOD does not consistently collect and analyze relevant training data from all mishap investigations, such as information on the pilot’s recent flying experience or training proficiency in the task or mission performed during the mishap,” the report says. “Recent studies have suggested that training shortfalls are a potential indicator of trends in aviation mishaps.”

The GAO said part of the problem stems from each service using data systems that evolved over time to meet the unique requirements of each military branch. Until each system is upgraded to allow for standardized data, the Defense Department must make time-consuming adjustments to align them, and that delays sharing critical information to decision makers about reducing risks.

The GAO recommended that the Defense Department ensure standardized data, and it concurred. The GAO also recommended that each military branch identify relevant training-related data to incorporate into future analyses. The Defense Department agreed to do so.