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