Information Available Away From the Scene

There is a lot of information available to you on the NTSB web site, including:

• Aviation accident database
• NTSB accident reports going back to 1996
• Safety recommendation letters
• "Lessons Learned" articles

In addition, pertinent data and recommendation information that pre-dates information on our website may be obtained through the Public Affairs Office in Washington.

In aviation accidents, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) - colloquially referred to as "black boxes" - are transported to the Board's headquarters building for read out. Photo opportunities of those recorders are sometimes arranged by the Public Affairs Office in Washington, but any factual information relating to those recorders usually will be released by the investigative team at the accident site.

These recorders - and the transcript of the CVR the Board ultimately provides - should not be confused with air traffic control communications. The NTSB is given a copy of the recorded audio communications between the flight crew and air traffic controllers for its investigation. Once the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has provided a complete written transcript of those communications, as determined by the Board's Investigator-in-Charge, the NTSB will return the tape to the FAA. After the tape has been returned, the FAA will release the audio air traffic control communications and transcript to the public. This usually occurs weeks after the accident.

For a detailed history of flight recorders, please see the article "Aviation Recorder Overview", [PDF] pages 31-42 NTSB Journal of Accident Investigation, Spring 2006; Volume 2, Issue 1.

Data recorders can also be found in other modes of transportation, particularly rail. Information from those recorders will be released through normal NTSB procedures.

In addition, you may find the websites of the pertinent Department of Transportation (DOT) modal agencies useful to you. Either they have information on the site you can use, or they will direct you to information that can be obtained from those agencies elsewhere.

For example, the FAA would be your source for aircraft service difficulty reports and federal aviation regulations.

Links to DOT agency web sites follow:

	Federal Aviation Administration
	Federal Highway Administration
	Federal Railroad Administration
	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
	Federal Transit Administration
	Maritime Administration
	Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
	Office of Pipeline Safety

Note: Specific information on aircraft models or engine types can be obtained directly from the manufacturers.