Definition
An independent U.S. federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and incidents, determining their probable cause, and issuing safety recommendations. The NTSB also investigates accidents in other transportation modes (rail, marine, highway, pipeline) but in aviation it works alongside the FAA, with the NTSB handling investigation and the FAA handling regulation.
Plain English
The federal body that investigates aircraft accidents to find out what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again.
Context Anchor
Pilots may see NTSB mentioned in FAA handbooks, accident reports, safety alerts, and discussions of lessons learned from weather-related accidents, including accidents involving radar or onboard weather information.
Why Pilots Care
NTSB findings directly shape regulations, training, and equipment changes that affect everyday flying safety.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the NTSB is the same as the FAA. The FAA regulates aviation; the NTSB investigates accidents and recommends safety improvements.
Example Sentence 1
After the off-airport landing, the pilot contacted the NTSB to report the accident as required.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots often read NTSB reports to understand how small decisions can lead to serious outcomes.