AF Form 853: Air Force Wildlife Strike Report (Download)

AF Form 853: Air Force Wildlife Strike Report (Download) – Wildlife strikes pose a serious threat to aviation safety across the U.S. military and civilian sectors. For U.S. Air Force aircrews, maintainers, and safety professionals, AF Form 853 (Air Force Wildlife Strike Report) serves as a key tool to document these incidents accurately and support the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) management program.

Accurate reporting helps identify hazardous species, assess risks at airfields, improve mitigation strategies, and prevent costly damage or loss of life. Since 1995, the USAF has recorded over 69,000 wildlife-aircraft strikes, resulting in 23 aviator fatalities, 12 aircraft destroyed, and more than $400 million in equipment damage.

What Is AF Form 853?

AF Form 853, titled Air Force Wildlife Strike Report, is the official form used to document wildlife (primarily bird, but also bat, mammal, or reptile) strikes involving USAF aircraft. It captures critical details about the aircraft, flight conditions, strike circumstances, damage (if any), and wildlife involved.

The form (revision dated 10/15/2005, still referenced as current on official e-Publishing and safety sites) is available as a fillable PDF for download directly from the Air Force e-Publishing site: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_se/form/af853/af853.pdf.

It supports both damaging and non-damaging strikes and helps feed data into the Air Force Safety Automated System (AFSAS) for broader BASH analysis.

Why Reporting Wildlife Strikes Matters in the USAF?

Wildlife strikes occur most frequently during takeoff, landing, and low-level flight phases, when aircraft are closer to the ground and bird activity peaks (especially at dawn and dusk). Reporting every incident — even minor ones with no visible damage — contributes to trend analysis, airfield-specific risk assessments, and the development of effective BASH plans.

The USAF BASH program, guided by DAFI 91-212 (Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Management Program), emphasizes proactive hazard identification and mitigation. Timely submission of AF Form 853 (or equivalent electronic reporting) enables safety offices to:

Track species-specific risks.
Coordinate with USDA Wildlife Services for identification of remains.
Update Bird Watch Conditions (BWC).
Support safety investigations when damage occurs.

Recent FAA data on civil aircraft shows wildlife strikes rising: 22,372 reported strikes in 2024, a 14% increase from 2023, with over 319,000 total U.S. strikes since 1990 causing 82 fatalities and 126 aircraft destroyed domestically. Military data follows similar patterns, underscoring the need for consistent reporting.

Who Should Complete AF Form 853?

Aircraft Commander/Pilot-in-Command (PIC) — Primary responsibility for in-flight strikes.
Maintenance personnel — Who discover evidence of a strike during post-flight inspections.
Anyone who witnesses or finds wildlife remains on or near the aircraft or airfield (within specified distances of runways).

For off-station or deployed operations, reports go to the local safety office and the home unit. Many units now encourage or require use of the SAFEREP app/website (https://saferep.safety.af.mil) for electronic wildlife strike reporting in addition to or instead of the paper form.

How to Report a Wildlife Strike? (Step-by-Step)

Ensure safety first — Land the aircraft safely and perform a thorough inspection.
Collect evidence — Photograph the impact point, any remains, feathers, blood smears, or damage. Preserve remains (refrigerate/freezer; do not ship to Smithsonian if funding is paused — retain locally per current DAFMAN 91-223 guidance).
Complete AF Form 853 — Fill out as much detail as possible, even if some fields are unknown.
Submit promptly — Forward to unit safety office, Maintenance Debrief, or Wing/SEF. Damaging strikes may require mishap reporting per DAFI 91-202/DAFMAN 91-223.
Electronic option — Use the “Report a Wildlife (BASH) Strike” feature in SAFEREP where available. Some units integrate this directly with AFSAS.

Key sections typically included on AF Form 853 (based on official references):

Unit/Wing/Squadron
Aircraft type and tail number/registration
Date and time of strike
Flight phase (takeoff, climb, cruise, approach, landing)
Altitude and airspeed
Location (airfield or en route)
Description of strike (number of animals, parts struck, effects on aircraft)
Damage assessment and estimated costs
Wildlife description or remains collected
Weather and Bird Watch Condition at the time
Reporter’s details

Provide as much detail as possible — even “unknown” species strikes help when photos or remains are submitted for expert identification.

Best Practices for Accurate Reporting

Report all strikes, regardless of damage.
Collect and photograph remains quickly to preserve DNA and morphological features.
Coordinate with base BASH managers or USDA Wildlife Services for species ID.
Include cost estimates for repairs and aircraft downtime when known.
For non-damaging events, treat as a hazard report; damaging ones may escalate to mishap classification.

Units often keep blank AF Form 853 copies in mission kits, maintenance debrief areas, and flight safety offices.

Air Force Safety Center BASH Division: https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Aviation-Safety-Division/BASH/ — Official guidance, forms, and program info.
DAFI 91-212 — BASH Management Program.
DAFMAN 91-223 — Aviation Safety Investigations and Reports (covers BASH reporting procedures).
SAFEREP: https://saferep.safety.af.mil — Preferred electronic reporting tool for many units.
USAF Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS): https://www.usahas.com/ — Tactical bird risk assessment tool.
FAA National Wildlife Strike Database (for reference): https://wildlife.faa.gov/ — Useful for broader context, though USAF uses internal systems.

For civilian aircraft or joint operations, the FAA Form 5200-7 may also apply, but USAF aircraft use AF Form 853 or SAFEREP.

Download AF Form 853

Official Download Link:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_se/form/af853/af853.pdf

Always verify the latest version on e-Publishing.af.mil, as forms and procedures can receive updates.

Stay Proactive – Report to Protect

Every AF Form 853 submitted strengthens the USAF’s ability to manage BASH risks, protect aircrew, and preserve valuable aircraft. If you experience or discover a wildlife strike, act quickly: document, preserve evidence, and report through your chain or SAFEREP.

For unit-specific procedures, contact your Wing Flight Safety Officer or SEF. Consistent reporting saves lives and resources — it’s a critical part of every mission.

This article is for informational purposes and draws from official U.S. Air Force publications and safety resources. Always follow current DAF instructions, local directives, and consult your safety office for the most up-to-date guidance.