Originally Posted by
tistisnot
Strange use by the military of the description "mishap" - which in my book is a small mistake / unlucky accident / misfortune. However ...
The US Navy uses an officially defined doctrinal term, Mishap, which has severity codes A, B, and C. That term covers both ground and air events.
I've investigated a few of each.
Reference:
OPNAVINST 3750.7 series ; Chapter 3:
The following mishap severity classes, based on personnel injury and property damage, apply to all three categories of mishaps listed above. To determine mishap costs see paragraph 314.
a. Class A Severity. A Class A mishap is one in which the total cost of damage to property or aircraft or UAVs exceeds $1,000,000, or a naval aircraft is destroyed or missing, or any
fatality or permanent total disability results from the direct
involvement of naval aircraft or UAV. Loss of a UAV is not a
Class A unless the cost is $1,000,000 or greater.
b. Class B Severity. A Class B mishap is one in which the total cost of damage to property or aircraft or UAVs is more than $200,000 but less than $1,000,000, or a permanent partial disability or the hospitalization of three or more personnel
results.
c. Class C Severity. A Class C mishap is one in which the total cost of damage to property or aircraft or UAVs is $20,000 or more, but less than $200,000, or an injury requiring five or
more lost workdays results.
d. Any occurrence in which the total cost of property or aircraft or UAV damage is less than $20,000 and there are no
reportable injuries is not an aviation mishap. Report these
events as hazards. (See Chapter 4.)
Your opinion on the semantics of the term is noted, but irrelevant. You are invited to read chapter three of the OPNAV instruction, which governs Navy and Marine Corps aviation safety and mishaps, for further edification.