...All information gathered by a Mishap Board is Privileged Information… disclosure of privileged information comes only under penalty of law. “Unauthorized disclosure of the information in this report is a criminal offense punishable under Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice” Witnesses, ALL witnesses, including the accident aircrew members, are protected from any legal consequences as a result of their statements to the Mishap Investigation Board. They cannot be prosecuted, sued, nor punished. The witnesses are encouraged to be forthright, open and complete in their statements to help the Board understand the chain of events leading to the mishap. In this way investigators have the best chance for getting at the truth.

The Safety Investigation is unquestionably after the truth...