- (a) The operator of any aircraft involved in an accident within this State in which any person is killed or injured or damage in excess of five hundred dollars is sustained to the property of any person, other than property owned by the owner or operator or in his custody or control or carried in or on the aircraft, shall immediately but not later than forty-eight hours after the accident report the matter in writing to the agency. If the operator is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the aircraft involved in the accident, shall immediately but not later than forty-eight hours after learning of the accident make the report. If neither the operator nor the owner is physically capable of making the report, then each passenger shall, within ten days after learning of the incapacity of the operator or owner, make the report. If the owner or operator dies as as a result of the accident, the legal representative of the operator or owner shall make the report within ten days after his qualification. Any law enforcement officer who has knowledge of an aircraft accident shall immediately notify the agency.
- (b) The report, the form of which shall be prescribed by the agency shall include information to enable the agency to determine whether the requirements for the deposit of security under Section 55-8-40 are inapplicable by reason of existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in this chapter. The agency may rely upon the accuracy of the information until it has reason to believe that the information is erroneous.
- (c) The operator and the owner shall furnish such additional information as the agency may require.
- (d) Any person, other than the owner, operator or sheriff having knowledge of the accident or any Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Department of Transportation or National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), or Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) violation, incident, or accident, shall immediately notify the agency of such occurrence and failure to so notify shall be a misdemeanor and be punishable as provided in Section 55-8-140.
HISTORY: 1978 Act No. 563 Section 3.