What will the NTSB determine after investigating an aircraft accident?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) specializes in investigating transportation accidents, with a primary focus on enhancing safety. After investigating an aircraft accident, the NTSB aims to establish the probable cause of the incident. This includes identifying factors such as human error, mechanical failure, environmental conditions, and operational procedures that may have contributed to the accident.

Determining the probable cause is critical as it informs recommendations for future safety improvements and helps prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. This investigative process reflects the NTSB’s mission to enhance transportation safety rather than address legal issues or financial implications directly.

In contrast, operational costs, legal liabilities, and the reliability of specific aircraft models may be tangentially relevant to the aviation industry but fall outside the scope of the NTSB’s primary function. The agency does not evaluate these financial aspects or assign blame in a legal sense; rather, it focuses solely on understanding why the accident happened to improve the safety of aviation.