National Transportation Safety Board

• Author: Mary Lush, Val Hinton
• Pages: 537-539

Page 537

When the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was established in 1967, it was considered an independent federal agency. Nevertheless, NTSB's administrative support and funding were funneled through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Over time, the need for a totally separate, nonreliant agency was recognized, and the 1975 Independent Safety Board Act severed all DOT ties.

Congress charges NTSB with investigating every U.S. civil aviation accident, as well as significant railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline accidents. NTSB, based on investigation findings, then issues safety recommendations in an effort to prevent future accidents.

NTSB differs from other agencies in that it has no official enforcement or regulatory powers, it is a totally independent agency, and its specially trained staff conducts investigations and determines probable cause. Its investigations are broad, looking more for the "big picture," rather than attempting to focus on a specific detail or category.

With fewer than 400 employees, NTSB is a small agency. It plays a large role, however, in maintaining and/or restoring public confidence in the safety of the nation's transportation systems. NTSB has investigated over 10,000 surface transportation accidents and more than 124,000 aviation accidents since it began operation in 1967.

The most important outcomes of NTSB investigations are the safety recommendations the agency issues based on investigation findings. NTSB has proven itself to be thorough and impartial and has been able to achieve an admirable (more than 80 percent) acceptance rate of recommendations made to various individuals and organizations in positions to effect change.

NTSB also uses accident-investigation findings to identify trends or issues that may otherwise be overlooked. Through proactive outreach efforts (e.g., conferences, symposia, and state advocacy), NTSB makes the public aware of potential safety problem areas, such as child safety seat concerns or accidents related to human fatigue factors.

Further, to address the needs of aviation disaster victims and their families, the role of integrating federal, local, and state authorities' resources with airlines resources was assigned to the NTSB in 1996. To fulfill this essential role, the NTSB established the Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance (originally called the Office of Family Affairs).

Page 538

Mark Rosenker, vice chairman of the National...