National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

until the 45th day after the date of an aviation or rail passenger accident; binds attorneys, their agents and any potential litigation party, and protects injured people and the relatives of anyone involved^{1, 2}

as soon as practicable after the Board is notified of the accident^{1, 2}

The NTSB may take custody of personal effects, such as personal electronic devices, or other items relevant to the investigation. Depending on their condition, they may be returned to the owner or a designated family member, typically at the conclusion of the investigation.³

Effects the NTSB does not collect may be held by the medical examiner or coroner, law enforcement or another responding agency. TDA answers questions about effects the NTSB retains and gives contact information for other agencies holding effects, when known.³

For a passenger airline accident, collecting and returning personal effects from the accident site is a shared responsibility of the air carrier, the local medical examiner or coroner, and the NTSB.⁴

An air carrier's family plan must consult the family about the disposition of all remains and personal effects in the carrier's control, and return any possession on request regardless of condition unless it is needed for the accident or a criminal investigation.⁵

An air carrier must keep a passenger's unclaimed possessions for at least 18 months. Contact the carrier directly for effects in its control.⁵

Families are not required to report a death to the NTSB. No deadline applies to a family contacting the NTSB, and no benefit is forfeited by waiting.⁶

Aircraft operators must notify the NTSB "immediately, and by the most expeditious means available", through its 24-hour Response Operations Center. The operator, not the family, makes the report.^{7, 8, 9}

TDA coordinates family assistance at the request of NTSB investigators, when survivors, families or friends contact it directly, or during an established family assistance operation near the accident location.⁶

A TDA specialist typically engages within hours to days when the NTSB launches, and deploys to the accident location during the on-scene phase of a major passenger accident. The specialist remains the primary point of contact throughout.⁶

The NTSB determines the probable cause and publishes it in the final report; it will not determine the cause while on scene. The preliminary report is a synopsis of the factual information collected on scene.³

A final report or accident brief replaces the preliminary report: approximately 18 to 24 months after a general aviation accident, and typically 12 to 24 months after a rail, highway, marine or pipeline accident.³

Released reports are searchable in CAROL (Case Analysis and Reporting Online), and the accident docket in the Docket Management System. The docket opens at an appropriate point during the investigation or at its conclusion.^{10, 11}

NTSB investigates aviation accidents, selected highway accidents including railroad grade crossings, railroad accidents with a fatality, substantial property damage or a passenger train, pipeline accidents with a fatality, substantial property damage or significant environmental injury, and major marine casualties.¹²

It also investigates any other transportation accident it decides is catastrophic or involves problems of a recurring character. Not every accident is investigated.¹²

TDA supports families in aviation, rail, highway, marine and pipeline investigations. The full statutory family assistance program applies to major passenger airline accidents and rail passenger accidents.⁶

The rail passenger track covers interstate, intercity and high-speed rail passenger operators, including Amtrak. Commuter, tourist, historic, scenic, freight and excursion operators are excluded from it.¹³

Victim recovery, identification, cause and manner of death, and death certification are the responsibility of the medical examiner or coroner where the death occurred. TDA gives the contact information for that office on request.³

The Board has primary federal responsibility for facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers; the identification itself and the death certificate come from the local medical examiner or coroner.^{1, 2}

NTSB investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no adverse parties and "are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights, liabilities, or blame of any person or entity." The agency has no regulatory or enforcement authority and does not investigate criminal activity.¹⁴

The NTSB issues probable-cause findings and safety recommendations, and awards no benefits or compensation.⁶

TDA partners with the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, HHS and its Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams, the FBI's Victim Services Division and Evidence Response Team, DHS, DOD's Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and DNA Identification Laboratory, DOT and the American Red Cross.¹⁶

No part of a Board report may be admitted into evidence or used in a civil action for damages arising from a matter mentioned in the report.¹⁵

Notification, passenger lists, travel and personal effects under the carrier's family plan^{3, 5}

Victim recovery, identification, cause and manner of death, and death certification³

Help after an overseas accident involving a US citizen, with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate^{16, 18}

A TDA specialist is the primary agency contact for survivors, families and friends, with updates on report releases and other public investigative information. The specialist works with the investigator-in-charge and local and state agencies, helps families reach assistance, and supports them by phone or on scene.^{6, 17}

Who qualifies: Survivors and the families and friends of those involved in accidents the NTSB investigates: aviation, rail, highway, marine and pipeline

A secure, central meeting place near the accident location offering information about the response and the investigation, and access to support services. TDA specialists, the carrier, the American Red Cross and selected government agencies staff it; information and services are available remotely if no center opens.^{3, 4}

Who qualifies: Survivors and families in major passenger airline accidents and in interstate, intercity or high-speed rail passenger accidents, including Amtrak

After a qualifying aviation accident, families are briefed, as far as practicable, before any public briefing on the accident, its causes and other findings and are told of and may attend Board hearings and meetings on it. Rail briefings omit its causes. Briefings are at the Family Assistance Center or by web or phone.^{1, 2}

Who qualifies: Families of passengers in qualifying aviation and rail passenger accidents

Short-term emotional support and referrals through the NTSB's partnership with the American Red Cross, at the request of survivors, families or friends; every Red Cross service is free. Offered in aviation, rail, highway, marine and pipeline investigations, not only in statutory family assistance operations.^{3, 13, 19, 20, 21}

Who qualifies: Survivors, families and friends of those involved in an NTSB-investigated accident, on request

After a qualifying aviation or rail passenger accident, the Chairman designates an independent nonprofit to coordinate emotional, psychological and family support care with the carrier. It gives families privacy to grieve, meets or contacts them, stays in touch while needed and arranges a memorial service with them.^{1, 2}

Who qualifies: Passengers involved in, and families of passengers involved in, qualifying aviation and rail passenger accidents; no family application