Plain English Meaning
A formal report from the U.S. agency that investigates plane crashes, explaining what happened, why it happened, and what caused it.
Full Definition
An official document produced by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that records the findings of an investigation into a civil aviation accident, including the sequence of events, contributing factors, and the probable cause as determined by the Board.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight instructor training, accident analysis, safety discussions, and FAA handbook material about how aviation accidents are studied after they occur.
Derivation
The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) is an independent U.S. government agency established in 1967 to investigate transportation accidents. The word 'accident' comes from the Latin 'accidere', meaning 'to happen' or 'to fall upon' — an unplanned event. Knowing the NTSB's role as the investigating clarifies why its carry official .