Definition
An independent U.S. federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and significant incidents, determining their probable cause, and issuing safety recommendations to prevent recurrence. The NTSB also investigates accidents in other transportation modes (rail, marine, highway, pipeline) but is separate from the FAA and has no regulatory authority — it cannot make rules or enforce them.
Plain English
The NTSB is the government body that investigates aircraft accidents to figure out what went wrong and recommend changes so it doesn't happen again. It is not the same as the FAA, and it does not write or enforce flight rules.
Context Anchor
Pilots may see NTSB references in accident reporting rules, safety reports, training materials, and FAA handbooks that discuss accident prevention.
Why Pilots Care
NTSB findings frequently lead to changes in procedures, training requirements, and equipment standards that directly affect how pilots operate.
Intuition Check
The NTSB is not the same as the FAA. The FAA regulates aviation and issues certificates; the NTSB investigates accidents and recommends safety improvements.
Example Sentence 1
After the off-airport landing, the pilot contacted the NTSB within the required timeframe to report the accident.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots review NTSB reports to learn from past incidents and adjust their decision-making accordingly.