The mission of the Office of Aviation Safety (AS) is to:
- Investigate all civil domestic air carrier, commuter, and air taxi accidents; in-flight collisions; fatal and nonfatal general aviation accidents; and certain public-use aircraft accidents; uncrewed aircraft systems accidents; and commercial space mishap accidents.
- Participate in the investigation of accidents in foreign countries that involve U.S. carriers, U.S.-manufactured or -designed equipment, or U.S. registered aircraft, to fulfill U.S. obligations under International Civil Aviation Organization agreements (NTSB’s Role in Foreign Aviation Investigations).
- Conduct investigations of safety issues that extend beyond a single accident to examine specific aviation safety problems from a broader perspective.
AS has the responsibility for investigating domestic aviation accidents and incidents (about 1,300 annually) and for proposing probable cause for the Board's approval. In conjunction with other offices within the NTSB, the office also works to formulate recommendations to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents and incidents, and to otherwise improve aviation safety.
The Office of Aviation Safety includes the following divisions:
- Air Carrier and Space Investigations Division takes the lead role in airline and commercial space investigations. It investigates all civil and certain public aircraft accidents and select incidents, as well as accidents involving launch or reentry of FAA licensed or permitted commercial space vehicles. The division also provides an accredited representative to support the investigations of civil aviation accidents that occur in other countries under the provisions of International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13. For investigations that NTSB leads, the division assigns investigators-in-charge to lead and manage the lifecycle of an air carrier/commercial space investigation, including assigning parties to the investigation.
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General Aviation Investigations Division investigates 97 percent of the domestic aviation accidents that occur, as well as select incidents. These investigations primarily include flights that are personal or instructional in nature but also include, corporate operations, air charter flights, air tours, law enforcement and air medical flights, agricultural operations, and many other types of non-passenger carrying commercial operations. The division also supports the investigations of general aviation accidents that occur in other countries by providing accredited representatives. The investigators-in-charge are based throughout the country and the division is supported by four regional offices in Anchorage, Alaska, Federal Way, Washington, Aurora, Colorado, and Washington, DC.
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Operational Factors Division examines issues related to air traffic control, flight operations, and meteorology, including providing meteorological support for surface mode investigations. Operational factors investigators support air carrier, general aviation, and commercial space investigations with a focus on their respective disciplines. The also routinely conduct independent incident investigations involving serious single-discipline safety issues.
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Aviation Engineering Division examines various areas relating to the accident aircraft or vehicle including powerplants, structures, systems, and maintenance records. Aviation engineering investigators serve as group chair in major aviation, general aviation, and commercial space investigations and conduct an objective and thorough technical investigation of the accident in order to prepare reports used to develop the final report and safety recommendations.
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Human Performance and Survival Factors Division focuses on the performance of persons whose action may have caused or contributed to an accident by examining various aspects related to human knowledge, actions, and abilities and examines factors that affect the survival of persons involved in accidents and various aspects of safety procedures and vehicle performance. Both Human Performance investigators and Survival Factors investigators serve as group chair in major aviation, general aviation, and commercial space investigations and conduct an objective and thorough technical investigation of the accident in order to prepare reports used to develop the final report and safety recommendations.
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Writing and Editing Division develops and writes major aviation and commercial space investigative reports and other aviation investigation reports. The division also analyzes, writes, and edits accident briefs, safety alerts, safety recommendations, and responses to notices of proposed rulemaking and petitions for reconsideration.
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Administrative Support Division is responsible for supporting all administrative functions of the office including budget, travel, payroll, timekeeping, procurement, and contracting.
Office Information
Accident Reports and Products
Accident Dashboards
Updated March 27, 2024
