NTSB Briefing to

Community College Risk Management Consortium

NTSB Briefing to

Community College Risk Management Consortium

Sharon W. BrysonDirector, Office of Safety Recommendations

and Communications

NTSB MissionNTSB Mission

• Determine probable cause(s) of transportation accidents

• Make recommendations to prevent reoccurrence• Conduct special studies and investigations• Coordinate resources to assist victims and their families

after an accident

Cory Lidle Accident-Midtown NYCCory Lidle Accident-Midtown NYC

Cory Lidle Accident-Midtown NYCCory Lidle Accident-Midtown NYC

NASCAR-Sanford FloridaNASCAR-Sanford Florida

NASCAR-Sanford FloridaNASCAR-Sanford Florida

Amtrak Miriam NevadaAmtrak Miriam Nevada

Football Band- Osseo WIFootball Band- Osseo WI

NTSB Investigative Responsibilities

NTSB Investigative Responsibilities

• All U.S. aviation accidents– Except military/intelligence agencies– US accredited representative for foreign accidents

• Selected rail accidents• Selected highway accidents• Selected marine accidents• Selected pipeline accidents• Selected hazmat accidents

NTSB GovernanceNTSB Governance

• Reports directly to Congress• Independent federal agency• No regulatory authority• Composed of five Board Members

– Presidential nomination– Senate confirmation– Two/Five-year terms

Legislated AccidentsLegislated Accidents• Within US/territories • Major loss of life• Aviation

– FAR Part 121 air carriers• Domestic transport category aircraft

– FAR Part 129 air carriers• Foreign air carriers between US and

outside US• Rail

– Interstate intercity rail passenger transportation (Amtrak)

– Interstate/intrastate high-speed rail

• Other aviation operations under NTSB investigative authority

• Parts 91, 135, 136, 137

• Foreign aviation - US citizens• Motorcoach, marine, pipeline,

commuter/transit rail• NTSB/TDA will try to implement

family assistance support working with local authorities/agencies

• Criminal FBI

Non-legislated AccidentsNon-legislated Accidents

Major InvestigationsMajor Investigations• Criteria

– Major carrier/commuter airliner

– Substantial damage, multiple injuries/deaths

• Go Team Composition:– Investigator in charge (IIC)– Representative of each investigative group– Board Member--serves as the “voice” of the investigation– Transportation Disaster Assistance specialists– Public affairs officer

NTSB Party SystemNTSB Party System

Party Member Examples • FAA (always)• Equipment manufacturer• Engine manufacturer• Airline Pilots Association• Air Traffic Controllers Union

“…persons, government agencies, companies, and associations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were involved in the accident and who can provide suitable qualified technical personnel to actively assist…”

• NTSB selects parties• No insurers, claimants, lawyers

• Bound by rules of engagement• Responsive to NTSB direction

• Verify factual reports written by group chairmen

Key On-scene EventsKey On-scene EventsOrganizational Meeting• Designate parties and party

coordinators• Establish and organize groups

Progress Meetings• Summarize findings• Info for briefings

Family Briefings

Press Briefings

NTSB Investigative ProcessNTSB Investigative Process

On-sceneInvestigation

Organizational Meeting

Groups and Parties

Progress meetingsMedia BriefingsPress Releases

Preliminary reportFactual

information

Public HearingFact findingDepositionsWitnesses

Docket

Board Meeting

DocketFindings

ConclusionsProbable Cause

Safety Recommendations

Final Report

Government in the Sunshine Act

Questions?Questions?

TDALegislative Background

TDALegislative Background

• Public Law 104-264: Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996

• Public Law 105-148: Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997

• Public Law 106-181: Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), April 2000

• Public Law 108-176: Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, December 2003

• Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act of 2008

Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996

Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996

• “The Board shall have primary Federal responsibility for facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally-injured passengers involved in an accident described in subsection (a).”

• NTSB coordinates and provides additional resources to the airline/rail carrier and local government to help victims and their families while preserving local responsibility and jurisdiction

Legislated AccidentsLegislated Accidents• Within US/territories • Major loss of life• Aviation

– FAR Part 121 air carriers• Domestic transport category aircraft

– FAR Part 129 air carriers• Foreign air carriers between US and

outside US• Rail

– Interstate intercity rail passenger transportation (Amtrak)

– Interstate/intrastate high-speed rail – Assuming NTSB-led investigation

• Other aviation operations under NTSB investigative authority

• Parts 91, 135, 136, 137• Foreign aviation - US citizens• Motor-coach, marine, pipeline,

commuter/transit rail• NTSB/TDA will try to implement

family assistance support working with local authorities/agencies

• Criminal FBI

Non-legislated AccidentsNon-legislated Accidents

FBI:Evidence Response Team (ERT)Disaster SquadOffice for Victim Assistance (OVA)

DOD:Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner

(AFME)Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory

(AFDIL)

HHS:Disaster Mortuary Operational Response

Teams (DMORT)Disaster Medical Assistance Teams

(DMAT)

Local/StateMedical Examiner/CoronerMass fatality team1st responders/Law EnforcementSupport agencies

Disaster Child CareDisaster Mental Health/Crisis supportSpiritual Care

Primary Partner Agencies – Aviation/Rail AccidentNOTE: Each partner has designated responsibilities in the plan and/or legislation

Department of State

Federal Emergency Management Agency

NTSB TasksNTSB Tasks• Coordinate with state and

local authorities• Coordinate federal

assistance• Coordinate with air/rail

carrier about family and support staff logistics

• Serve as a liaison between air/rail carrier and families

• Integrate air/rail carrier/federal support to establish operations center

• Provide timely briefings to families

• Coordinate visits to the crash site

• Provide information to media on family support issues

• Maintain contact with families through entire investigation

Air Carrier/Amtrak Responsibilities

Air Carrier/Amtrak Responsibilities

• Toll-free number• Select/fund FAC location• Provide airline reps for

family support• Arrange travel/lodging• Logistics support for

families• Staff Joint Family

Support Operations Center

• Personal effects (contract cost)

• Victim identification (reasonable costs)

• Site visit (support)• Memorial (support, cost)• Return of remains/burial

(cost)

Questions?Questions?

NTSB & FBI:A working partnership

NTSB/FBI MOUNTSB/FBI MOU

• Updated and signed in 2005• NTSB is the lead agency until it is

determined to be a criminal/terrorist act• Defined hand off procedure from NTSB

to FBI

FBI AssetsFBI Assets• Assistance that might be requested

from the FBI:– Evidence Response Team (ERT & TDT)– Technical Response Unit– Hazardous Materials Operations Unit– Disaster Squad– Special Projects– Airport Liaison Agents– Criminal Investigation/Counterterrorism

Questions?Questions?

Public Affairs MissionPublic Affairs MissionKeep the public informed of the NTSB’s

work and its efforts to improve transportation safety.

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relations

MEDIA BRIEFINGS

First hit: “Plant the flag” video statement from NTSB Board Member traveling to

scene

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relations

MEDIA BRIEFINGS On-Scene briefing: “Raise the flag” Daily Briefings (when news is made)

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relations

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES Initial photos and video uncontrolled Media pool of site with investigators

after all human remains and personal effects are removed Photo op of CVR/FDR at lab in DC or on

scene

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relations

CVR/FDR at NTSB lab in DC

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relations

Uncontrolled/early access images

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relationsWHY WE TALK TO THE PRESS

Official source of accident info Transparency fosters confidence If we don’t, someone else will Parties and leaks

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relationsFACTUAL INFORMATION

Information that doesn’t change Often preliminary Without analysis We never speculate

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relationsFACTUAL INFORMATION NTSB MIGHT

RELEASE Contents of witness statements and

crewmember interviews Information from cockpit voice recorder

and flight data recorder Other findings on-scene

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relationsFACTUAL INFORMATION is released:

Only after the parties have been notified If Family Assistance Center has been

set up, family members are briefed before news media

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relationsQUESTIONS WE WON’T ANSWER

Is it possible…. Could that mean… Could you give us some possible

reasons for… What’s your personal opinion of…

On-scene media relationsOn-scene media relationsNAMES

The NTSB does not release names of: Passengers Crewmembers Air Traffic Controllers

Questions?Questions?

Case StudyCase Study

Median Crossover Collision with Medium-Size Bus on Interstate 35

Davis, OklahomaSeptember 26, 2014