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Dr. Steven J. Meyers, President and Chief ScientistDVI Aviation has become a trusted partner to aerospace manufacturers, airlines, defense contractors, MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul providers), and operators who require timely, in-depth analyses of accidents, component failures, and unexplained anomalies. Often regarded as the private-sector counterpart to the NTSB, the company delivers rapid forensic investigations and expert analysis precisely when they are needed most. Its services not only help resolve safety issues but also inform legal strategies and prevent future failures.
A Comprehensive and Confidential Approach to Forensic Investigations
“Our independent and unbiased investigations are thorough, science-driven, and tailored to each client’s distinct needs— whether resolving a safety issue, informing legal strategy, or preventing future failures,” says Dr. Steven J. Meyers, President and Chief Scientist at DVI Aviation.
Unlike the NTSB—whose findings are publicly disclosed and can take months to finalize—DVI Aviation offers a faster, more flexible alternative. Its team mobilizes senior experts within hours—not weeks—to investigate aerospace incidents across a broad spectrum, from aircraft and UAS/ drone failures to spacecraft mishaps and ground-support equipment breakdowns.
The company provides end-to-end failure analysis, including on-site field investigations, wreckage and flight path reconstruction, metallurgical and forensic laboratory services, aircraft systems analysis, structural assessments, and expert testimony.
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Our independent and unbiased investigations are thorough, science-driven, and tailored to each client’s distinct needs— whether resolving a safety issue, informing legal strategy, or preventing future failures
Moreover, clients do not need to invest the time or resources to build an in-house accident investigation team, which could take 8 to 10 years to fully develop. DVI’s ability to respond quickly and preserve perishable evidence is invaluable to those requiring immediate action and expert insight.
On-Demand Forensic Investigation and Hands-On Education
DVI Aviation’s core services include accident investigation and aerospace failure analysis, air safety education, and forensic laboratory services—each designed to meet specific and critical needs within the aerospace industry.
Its on-demand accident investigation and failure analysis services offer a private-sector alternative to government-led inquiries. This capability is crucial for resolving safety issues, informing legal decisions, and mitigating future risks. Over its 20-year history, DVI Aviation has built a strong reputation for rapid response, deploying senior specialists from disciplines such as air safety, metallurgy, flight sciences, avionics, structures, and human factors. This multidisciplinary expertise enables the company to address complex issues across a variety of platforms—from traditional aircraft to drones and spacecraft.
Its ability to act quickly ensures that the team can be on-site within hours, preserving evidence and delivering immediate, actionable findings. This rapid-response capability is especially valued by major airlines, OEMs, MROs, and government agencies.
In addition to its investigative work, DVI provides specialized training through its Hands-On Air Safety Education program. This initiative has become a vital resource for addressing the growing skills gap in the aerospace sector, particularly in the wake of industry downsizing and restructuring. The curriculum is designed to capture and transfer critical forensic knowledge that might otherwise be lost
Training incorporates real-world applications such as accident investigation, wreckage reconstruction, microscopy, metallurgical analysis, structural dissections, non-destructive testing, and failure analysis.
Courses are tailored to meet the needs of various sectors—from airlines and OEMs to government entities— and align with FAA/EASA and military protocols. The program also addresses emerging platforms like UAS/drones and small satellites, offering specialized instruction in failure analysis and accident forensics—topics not typically covered in traditional university programs.
Purpose-Built Forensic Laboratory and Lasting Industry Impact
Supporting its investigation work and educational programs, DVI is unique in maintaining a world-class forensic laboratory. The lab is purpose-built for evidence preservation, data collection, and aerospace-specific failure analysis.
With decades of experience in aerospace failure analysis and an unwavering commitment to confidentiality and rapid response, DVI Aviation has established itself as an indispensable partner in the aerospace industry. Whether resolving an immediate crisis or preparing the next generation of forensic experts, the company remains dedicated to shaping a safer, more reliable future for aviation.
Aircraft Accident Investigation for Defensible Aviation Decisions
After an aircraft accident, decisions must be made quickly and carefully. Evidence needs to be preserved, facts separated from assumptions and stakeholders given a clear understanding of what is known, what remains uncertain and what comes next. For aerospace and defense buyers, the challenge is not simply finding an investigator after an incident. It is choosing a partner that can turn scattered evidence into a rigorous analysis that stands up to legal, insurance, engineering and safety scrutiny.
The pressure on this market has intensified because internal expertise is difficult to maintain. Airlines, manufacturers, operators, maintainers and defense contractors may face complex failures only occasionally, making it hard to justify a permanent team devoted solely to accident reconstruction and failure analysis. At the same time, aerospace talent has been thinned by decades of restructuring, retirement, program consolidation and competition for engineering skill. When a serious failure occurs, a slow or narrow inquiry can compromise evidence, delay decisions and leave technical leadership dependent on incomplete explanations. Procurement teams also face pressure to confirm that findings can inform corrective action rather than remain confined to claims handling.
A strong aircraft accident investigation service combines independence, speed and technical expertise without jumping to conclusions. It should be able to move from on-site documentation to laboratory analysis, examining everything from mechanical evidence and human factors to component performance and overall aircraft systems. That breadth of expertise is important because aviation incidents rarely have a single explanation. What first appears to be a component failure may actually involve maintenance issues, design limitations, pilot actions, environmental conditions or a combination of factors that only becomes clear when the evidence is examined as a whole. Understanding the full picture requires examining the evidence in context. Confidentiality is just as important. Because accident investigations can involve liability, litigation, competitive concerns and regulatory oversight, discretion is a core part of the service, not simply an administrative consideration.
The strongest providers see investigations as more than a response to an incident. Accidents and failures often uncover lessons that improve design reviews, maintenance practices, certification efforts and internal safety programs. This is especially important in aerospace and defense, where aging expertise, fewer new programs and growing unmanned aircraft activity increase the value of experienced technical judgment. A qualified partner should help identify root causes while strengthening the knowledge needed to prevent similar events. For executive buyers, the goal is not simply to hire someone to write a report, but to engage a trusted technical authority whose findings can support engineering, legal, insurance and safety decisions with confidence.
DVI Aviation stands out for buyers that need independent aircraft accident investigation backed by forensic depth. It positions its work around accident reconstruction, failure analysis of aerospace components, aviation human factor analysis, accident-scene documentation, expert witness support and forensic laboratory services. Its website identifies a 10,000 sq. ft. laboratory, testing capabilities and investigation work across aircraft accidents and component failures. The transcript further supports its fit for aerospace and defense buyers: it describes DVI Aviation as a private-sector counterpart to the NTSB, serving airlines, manufacturers, operators, MROs and defense clients through senior, multi-disciplinary expertise. For organizations that need confidential, technically defensible answers when an aircraft failure demands immediate clarity, DVI Aviation is a clear premier choice.
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Company
DVI Aviation
Management
Dr. Steven J. Meyers, President and Chief Scientist
Description
DVI Aviation is a global leader in forensic failure analysis and aviation safety training. Its multidisciplinary team of forensic scientists, aircraft accident investigators, maintenance technicians, and technical test pilots investigates complex incidents—from mid-air collisions to material failures—delivering rapid, high-precision insights. Through hands-on education, it equips the next generation to uphold safety in an unforgiving industry.
