When any time of an aircraft is involved in an accident, there is an aviation accident investigation. This can be difficult if no one survived the crash but there are still ways of piecing together what happened. Of course, if the pilot did survive, one of the first things is to interview him or her. Depending on the condition of the aircraft, database material may be taken and at the very least, the black box is confiscated. During the course of an aviation accident investigation, the records of the contacts with the control tower are also recorded and documented. As most people know, however, the little black box is always a key part of the investigation. The investigators carefully piece together all communication and statistics from the time the plane left the air field until it encountered trouble (or left radar). In most instances, the cause of the accident can be established.