The following is an alphabetical list that describes information available from the NTSB, much of which is on the NTSB website. The Government Information Locator Service (GILS) also offers a standard description format - see GILS Records    for more information. Almost all factual information about an accident and all final documents issued by the Board are available to the public in some form. Information products distributed by the Board adhere to quality assurance guidelines. 

Based on the review it has conducted, the NTSB believes that it does not currently produce or sponsor the distribution of influential scientific information (including highly influential scientific assessments) within the definitions promulgated by OMB.  As a result, at this time the NTSB has no agenda of forthcoming influential scientific disseminations to post on its website in accordance with OMB's Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.

Keep in mind that other transportation-related information may be available from related sites.

To obtain any of this information, use the  links provided with each description, or see Information Sources & Contacts .

Accident Reports

1. Accident Reports

Detailed narrative reports which contain the facts, conditions, circumstances, analysis, conclusions and probable cause of aviation, railroad, highway, pipeline and marine accident investigations are published for all accidents which resulted in an investigation involving the launch of a team of specialists.  Press briefings are held on scene in the days immediately following the accident. A public docket containing factual information about the accident is available approximately six months after the accident. The Board Members will review a draft of this type of accident report in a public meeting at Safety Board headquarters in Washington, D.C. Soon after the meeting, the Board's Public Affairs Office issues an abstract containing the Board's conclusions, probable cause statement, and safety recommendations from the accident report; the final report of a major accident is subsequently printed for public distribution.

All of these types of  accident reports since 1996 are on the NTSB website under Publications and on CD-ROM (available from the Records Management Division while supplies last). Reports are also available, for a fee, from NTIS by annual subscription or by single issue. When ordering annual subscriptions, specify the transportation mode and the type of publication (i.e., Aviation Accident Report). When ordering single issues, specify the exact title of the document, the NTSB report number or the NTIS accession number.

Schedule: Accident reports are issued irregularly, typically about 6 weeks after a Board meeting on the same topic.  The schedule of Board meetings is available under News & Events on the NTSB website, and is also announced via a press release; an e-mail subscription service and a RSS feed are available for automatic notification of press releases.

2. Accident Briefs

Reports of accidents in brief or summary format are issued for all aviation accidents and for railroad, highway, pipeline and marine accidents that are investigated with a team of specialists by or for the NTSB , for which probable cause is determined.  This type of brief report contains an analytical summary of the accident, and a probable cause.   A public docket containing factual information is also available.

Brief reports for surface transportation accidents since 1998 are available on the NTSB website under Publications; aviation accident briefs since 1983 are available from the aviation accident database. Copies of briefs are also available through the Records Management Division and the NTSB contractor - see Contacts & Information Sources. When ordering individual accident briefs, specify the type of document, the transportation mode and the date and location of the accident.

Schedule: Final brief reports are generally issued about a year after the accident in a "brief of accident" format; however, the schedule varies according to the complexity of the investigation.  Advance notice of aviation briefs scheduled to be released is available under the Aviation topics page.

The Annual Report to the United States Congress details the major activities of the NTSB aviation, railroad, highway, pipeline and marine safety during the previous calendar year. The biennial additions also include an appraisal, evaluation and review and recommendations for legislative and administrative action and change, with respect to transportation safety.

Annual Reports from 1996 and later are on the NTSB website under Publications. They are also available, free of charge, upon request from the NTSB Records Management Division. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: The report is issued annually, typically within 9-12 months following the subject year.

The Annual Review of Aircraft Accident Data contains statistical tabulations and graphs of data compiled from reports of accidents involving revenue operations of U.S. air carriers in a particular calendar year. The report is divided into sections according to the Part of the Code of Federal Regulations under which the aircraft were flown when the accidents occurred (14 CFR Part 121 or 14 CFR Part 135). The Part 135 section is further divided into scheduled (commuter air carrier) and nonscheduled (on-demand air taxi) operations. Information provided within each section includes a list of accidents, accident causes and related factors and accident rates. Comparisons are made of data for the given year to averages of accident data for several prior years.

The publication is available on the NTSB website under Publications. It may also be obtained, for a fee, from NTIS. When ordering the publication, specify the exact title of the document, the NTSB report number or the NTIS accession number. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining this item.

Schedule: The Annual Review is issued annually, typically 3-4 years following the subject calendar year, in order to provide time to include data on completed investigations.

The Annual Review of Aircraft Accident Data contains statistical tabulations and graphs of data compiled from reports of accidents involving U.S. general aviation aircraft in a particular calendar year. The report is divided into sections for general, operational, environmental and pilot information. The report provides tabulations provide data describing the types, causes, and circumstances of accidents. Accident rates (total and fatal) are provided as are comparisons of the data of the given year to averages of accident data for several prior years.

The publication is available on the NTSB website under Publications. It may also be obtained, for a fee, from NTIS. When ordering the publication, specify the exact title of the document, the NTSB report number or the NTIS accession number. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining this item.

Schedule: The Annual Review is issued annually, typically 3-4 years following the subject calendar year, in order to provide time to include data on completed investigations.

Since 1983, accident data have been collected for about 600 data elements, a subset of which is updated daily on the NTSB website under Aviation. For 1964 through 1981, accident data were collected for about 300 data elements, and for 1982, accident data were collected for about 600 data elements. Additional features are described under the GILS record. Database research for non-web-accessible information is available through the Records Management Division - see Contacts & Information Sources for details.

Schedule: The database is updated daily.  Preliminary reports are typically available 3-5 days following an accident.  Factual and Final reports are available at the appropriate stages of the investigation.  Advance notice of aviation briefs scheduled to be released is available under the Aviation topics page.

Initial Decisions set forth Administrative Law Judges' findings, conclusions and decisions in safety enforcement proceedings involving petitions from applicants denied airmen's certificates by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; and appeals from orders of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration suspending or revoking certificates issued to airmen, aircraft, air agencies, and air carriers for alleged violations of the regulations or for lack of qualifications to hold such certificates. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: Irregular.

Investigation guides and procedures are NTSB staff products intended to provide information and guidance to NTSB employees who are involved in organizing and conducting investigations. These documents have not been adopted by the NTSB Board Members, are not regulatory in nature, are not a binding statement of policy, and are not all-inclusive. More information is available on the NTSB website under Investigation Guides and Procedures.

Schedule: Irregular.

NTSB directives are a manual of orders and notices, which identify NTSB organization, policies and procedures. The directives are updated as NTSB organization, policies, and procedures change.

The NTSB directives are available, free of charge, upon request from the NTSB Records Management Division. When ordering directives, specify the directive number, title, or subject matter. When ordering the index, specify that you want the index to NTSB directives. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: Irregular.

Opinions and Orders set forth decisions of the Board resulting from the review of appeals from decisions of the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard involving seamen's certificates or initial decisions of the NTSB Administrative Law Judges involving airmen and/or air safety certificates.

Opinions and Orders are issued individually, in a monthly publication, and in bound volumes containing several years of Opinions and Orders. The NTSB website contains an index to Opinions & Orders, as well as the text of all Opinions & Orders since mid-1992 - see Legal Matters. A copy of the index is also available free from the NTSB Records Management Division; copies of individual Opinions & Orders may be obtained from the NTIS by annual subscription or single issue. The bound volumes are available, for a fee, from the NTIS until limited supplies are exhausted. When ordering individual Opinions and Orders, specify the type of document (i.e. Opinions and Orders) and the Opinion and Order number. When ordering annual subscriptions, the bound volumes, or the index to Opinions and Orders, specify the type of document. When ordering single issues, specify the exact title of the monthly issue, the NTSB report number, or the NTIS accession number. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: Irregular.

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

This pamphlet provides general information on the mission and responsibilities of the NTSB and how it accomplishes these responsibilities. This pamphlet is updated only when there is a major change in the NTSB's mission and responsibilities.

It is available, free of charge, from the NTSB Records Management Division. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining this item.

Schedule: Irregular.

Press releases and media advisories are issued irregularly to announce public meetings and hearings, offer official statements on significant transportation events, and release abstracts of final reports following the Board meeting.

Press releases are available on the NTSB website under News & Events, and may be received as email via a subscription service. They are also available free of charge from the NTSB Records Management Division. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: issued irregularly, as need warrants, based on events.  For notice of public meetings, the press release is typically issued about 10 days before the meeting.  An e-mail subscription service is available for automatic notification of press releases.

Detailed records and files are maintained for specified periods of time on all major Board activities, such as accident investigations, safety recommendations, safety studies, special investigations, initial decisions of the Administrative Law Judges, opinions and orders, and safety objectives. These records are in addition to and support other published documents.

Public records and files are continuously maintained. Portions of the public docket on major accident investigations may be made available on the NTSB website under the appropriate Board Meeting or Public Hearing schedule. All records and files are available, for a fee, from the contractor of the NTSB. When ordering Public Records and Files, specify, if applicable, the document or file number, or name and title of the record or document; or for accident records, the date and location of the accident and the operator or carrier involved. Complete and up-to-date docket information will be listed in the current table of contents. When requesting docket items, please note note that material other than written reports, such as large blueprints, photographs, video tapes, computer diskettes, etc., will be indicated in the table of contents, but must be specifically requested, often for an additional charge. See Records Management Division for details on obtaining public records.

Selected items of high interest may appear on the NTSB website (http://www.ntsb.gov) in support of a public hearing or Board meeting. At this time, however, information on the web does not constitute the complete docket. To obtain certified copies of the NTSB Public Docket for a particular accident, or for more information, please contact the NTSB Records Management Division .

Schedule: Irregular.

Regulations of the NTSB are published in the Federal Register and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter VIII, Title 49 -- Transportation. These regulations are issued irregularly as procedures change. Currently issued parts are as follows:

Part 800 - Organization and functions of the Board and delegations of authority.

Part 801 - Public availability of information.

Part 802 - Rules implementing the Privacy Act of 1974.

Part 803 - Official seal.

Part 804 - Rules implementing the Government in the Sunshine Act.

Part 805 - Employee responsibilities and conduct.

Part 806 - National security information policy and guidelines, implementing regulation.

Part 807 - Enforcement of nondiscrimination on the basis of handicap in programs or activities conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board

Part 821 - Rules of practice in air safety proceedings.

Part 825 - Rules of procedure for merchant marine appeals from decisions of the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.

Part 826 - Rules implementing the Equal Access to Justice Act of 1980.

Part 830 - Notification and reporting of aircraft accidents or incidents, and overdue aircraft, and preservation of aircraft wreckage, mail, cargo, and records.

Part 831 - Aircraft accident/incident investigation procedures.

Part 835 - Testimony of Board employees.

Part 837 - Production of records in legal proceedings 840 Rules pertaining to notification of railroad accidents

Part 840 - Rules pertaining to notification of railroad accidents.

Part 845 - Rules of practice in transportation accident/incident hearings and reports.

Part 850 - Coast Guard National Transportation Safety Board marine casualty investigations.

On-line versions of these regulations are available from the Government Printing Office website. They are also available, free of charge, from the NTSB Records Management Division. When ordering regulations, specify, by number or by title, the part or parts of the regulations needed. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: Irregular.

Safety Recommendations are issued by the NTSB as a result of the investigation of transportation accidents and other safety problems. Recommendations usually identify a specific problem uncovered during an investigation or study and specify how to correct the situation. Letters containing the recommendations are directed to the organization best able to act on the problem, whether it be public or private.

Information about Safety Recommendations issued since 1967, including an archive of safety recommendation letters, acceptance rates, and the current Most Wanted List, is available on the NTSB website under Recommendations & Accomplishments.  Individual recommendations may be requested, for a fee, from the NTSB Records Management Division. The monthly publication is also available, for a fee, from the NTIS by annual subscription or single issue. When ordering individual recommendations, specify the type of publication (i.e., Safety Recommendations) and the recommendation number. When ordering annual subscriptions, specify the type of publication. When ordering single monthly issues, specify the exact title of the monthly issue and the NTSB recommendation number. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: Safety Recommendations are issued whenever a problem is identified.  An e-mail subscription service is available for automatic notification when recommendation letters are issued.

A Safety Study is an examination of: the effectiveness of or need for policies, programs, program management and operating practices, regulations, rulemaking, or other actions of a Government agency in reducing transportation losses; the technical aspects of a transportation system, subsystem, or component; accident data through statistical analysis techniques; or the history and progress of safety improvements undertaken to solve a particular problem in aviation, highway, railroad, pipeline, marine, or hazardous materials transportation. The study results in the issuance of a narrative report on the facts, conclusions and any applicable recommendations.

Recent studies are available on the NTSB website under Publications; studies are also available while supplies last from the Records Management Division or, for a fee, from the NTIS by annual subscription or by single issue. When ordering annual subscriptions, specify that you want "Special Reports." When ordering single issues, specify the exact title of the safety study, the NTSB report number, or the NTIS accession number. See the Contacts & Information Sources for details.

Schedule: Safety Studies are issued irregularly, typically about 6 weeks after a Board meeting on the same topic.  Meeting schedules are available under News & Events on the NTSB website, and also announced via a press release; an e-mail subscription service is available for automatic notification of press releases.

There are two types of Special Investigations. The first type of Special Investigation is an information-gathering effort concerning predetermined subjects selected in support of safety studies, and the second type of Special Investigation is an examination of technical issues and safety problems identified in one or more accident investigations. On the first type of Special Investigation a report will not be issued, but a file will be maintained, which contains the facts, conditions, and conclusions, but will not include a determination of probable cause. On the second type of Special Investigation a detailed narrative report will be developed and adopted by the Board, which contains the facts, conditions, conclusions and, if applicable safety recommendations.

The record/file or publication is available from the Records Management Division while supplies last; publications are also available on the NTSB website under Publications or, for a fee, from the NTIS by annual subscription or by single issue. When ordering annual subscriptions, specify that you want "Special Reports." When ordering single issues, specify the exact title of the special investigation, the NTSB report number, or the NTIS accession number. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining these items.

Schedule: Special Investigations are issued irregularly, typically about 6 weeks after a Board meeting on the same topic.

The Members of the Board are frequently asked to speak before Congressional Committees and state, local, and private organizations. Their prepared statements enunciate NTSB positions on transportation issues. The topics of these statements vary depending on the organization before which they are speaking.

Speeches and testimony are available on the NTSB website under News & Events.

Schedule: Irregular.

We Are All Safer is a publication series that describes recent NTSB-inspired improvements in transportation safety. It is available on the NTSB website under Publications, or free of charge, from the Records Management Division. See Contacts & Information Sources for details on obtaining this item.

Schedule: Irregular.