Crash

Crash is a term used to describe a sudden, often damaging event characterized by a collision, impact, or abrupt failure, and can function as a noun or a verb. It is used in everyday language to refer to traffic accidents, equipment failures, and rapid declines in markets, among other contexts.

In transportation, a crash often refers to a road traffic collision between vehicles or a vehicle and a stationary object, potentially causing injuries or fatalities. Investigations examine factors such as speed, distraction, weather, and mechanical problems; safety measures include enforcement, road design, and vehicle safety features.

Aviation and maritime crashes involve aircraft or ships and are investigated by authorities to determine causes and prevent recurrence. Investigations consider human error, weather, design flaws, maintenance, and operational procedures; safety improvements may include redesigned systems, stricter maintenance, and new training.

In computing, a crash describes a program or operating system terminating unexpectedly or freezing due to bugs, resource exhaustion, hardware faults, or overheating. Consequences may include data loss. Recovery often relies on regular backups, crash dumps, fault-tolerant design, and automatic recovery mechanisms.

In finance, a crash denotes a sudden, sharp drop in asset prices across markets. Notable examples include the 1929 Crash and the 1987 Black Monday. Crashes can be triggered by economic shocks, speculative excess, or liquidity problems and may lead to recessions or regulatory reforms.