National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the U.S. government agency responsible for investigating accidents involving nearly all major forms of transportation. The organization is also tasked with making recommendations to various industries and manufacturers to ensure safer travel based on the findings of their investigations.

The idea of an investigatory agency began with the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, which established the Air Safety Board.

NTSB reports are obviously important in the area of aviation law as their conclusions will often be pivotal in determining the true cause of the accident and therefore, identifying the liable party. However, the NTSB may often employ the assistance of industry experts and professionals who work for the defendants in the cases related to the accident they are investigating. While some may consider this a conflict of interest, the NTSB has not altered their policies or declined to seek help from individuals who may be associated with a potentially liable corporation. Because of this, it has been up to plaintiff attorneys to conduct their own independent investigations to ensure any biases, even if unintentional, are avoided.