Research Guides: Federal Administrative Decisions and Resources: NTSB

Mission Statement

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine and pipeline -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. The Safety Board determines the probable cause of:

all U.S. civil aviation accidents and certain public-use aircraft accidents;
selected highway accidents;
railroad accidents involving passenger trains or any train accident that results in at least one fatality or major property damage;
major marine accidents and any marine accident involving a public and a nonpublic vessel;
pipeline accidents involving a fatality or substantial property damage;
releases of hazardous materials in all forms of transportation; and
selected transportation accidents that involve problems of a recurring nature.

NTSB

NTSB Web Resources

Administrative Law Judges
The Administrative Law Judges conduct formal hearings and issue initial decisions on appeals by airmen filed with the Safety Board. The NTSB serves as the "court of appeals" for any airman, mechanic or mariner whenever certificate action is taken by the Federal Aviation Administration or the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, or when civil penalties are assessed by the FAA.
General Counsel
The Office of General Counsel advises, assists and represents the Safety Board in support of its activities relating to transportation safety; and as sole legal advisor, has responsibility for determining legal policy for the agency.
Investigations
This listing of investigations includes those open investigations involving accidents or incidents which resulted in significant loss of life, physical damage, involve issues of importance to public safety, or which have generated particular public interest. This represents only a small portion of the investigations conducted by the NTSB, most of which occur at the regional level. See this listing of selected regional investigations for more information.
NTSB Legal Issues
Opinions and orders, regulations.
NTSB Opinions and Orders
The final case decisions of the National Transportation Safety Board with regard to an airman, mechanic or mariner's appeal of action on his or her certificate are found in National Transportation Safety Board Decisions. Final decisions, opinions, and orders from 1992 to the present.
Publications
Formal reports produced by the NTSB.