MissionMission

Determining the probable cause(s) of transportation accidents

Making recommendations to prevent their reoccurrence

Conducting special studies and investigations

Coordinating resources to assist victims and their families after an accident

Determining the probable cause(s) of transportation accidents

Making recommendations to prevent their reoccurrence

Conducting special studies and investigations

Coordinating resources to assist victims and their families after an accident

IndependenceIndependence

Reports directly to Congress

Has no regulatory authority

Composed of five Board Members nominated for five-year terms by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Reports directly to Congress

Has no regulatory authority

Composed of five Board Members nominated for five-year terms by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Regional Office

Headquarters

Regional Office

Headquarters

The NTSB Staff is Located in a Headquarters Office in Washington, DC and 10 Regional Offices

The NTSB Staff is Located in a Headquarters Office in Washington, DC and 10 Regional Offices

Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado

Arlington, TexasArlington, Texas

Gardena, CaliforniaGardena, California

Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington

West Chicago, IllinoisWest Chicago, Illinois

Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia

Parsippany, New JerseyParsippany, New Jersey

Washington, DCWashington, DC

Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska

Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida

Note: There are no Marine Personnel in Regional Offices

The NTSB is Responsible for Investigating:The NTSB is Responsible for Investigating:

All U.S. aviation accidents (except those of military and intelligence agencies).

All U.S. aviation accidents (except those of military and intelligence agencies).

Highway accidents (including certain grade-crossing accidents) which involve issues ofwide-ranging safety significance.

Highway accidents (including certain grade-crossing accidents) which involve issues ofwide-ranging safety significance.

Railroad accidents in which there is a fatality, substantial property damage, or which involve a passenger train.

Railroad accidents in which there is a fatality, substantial property damage, or which involve a passenger train.

• Pipeline accidents in which there is a fatality, significant environmental or property damage.

• Pipeline accidents in which there is a fatality, significant environmental or property damage.

• Major marine accidents and accidents involving a public and a non-public vessel or accidents involving Coast Guard functions.

• Major marine accidents and accidents involving a public and a non-public vessel or accidents involving Coast Guard functions.

Transportation accidents involving the release of hazardous materials, including fatal accidents or those causing major disruptions to a community.

Transportation accidents involving the release of hazardous materials, including fatal accidents or those causing major disruptions to a community.

Provides family assistance following accidents

Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance

Provides family assistance following accidents

Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance

Other NTSB Responsibilities:Other NTSB Responsibilities:

TDA: Legislative BackgroundTDA: Legislative Background

Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996

Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997

The NTSB The NTSB coordinatescoordinates and and provides provides additional resourcesadditional resources to the airline and local to the airline and local government to help victims and their families government to help victims and their families while preserving local responsibility and while preserving local responsibility and jurisdictionjurisdiction

Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996

Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997

The NTSB The NTSB coordinatescoordinates and and provides provides additional resourcesadditional resources to the airline and local to the airline and local government to help victims and their families government to help victims and their families while preserving local responsibility and while preserving local responsibility and jurisdictionjurisdiction

NTSB-TDA

Based at NTSB Headquarters

On call 24 hours a day

“Go-Team”

Based at NTSB Headquarters

On call 24 hours a day

“Go-Team”

Director Manager-Disaster Services Manager-Emergency Operations Manager-Victim Recovery and Identification

Director Manager-Disaster Services Manager-Emergency Operations Manager-Victim Recovery and Identification

Primary ConcernsPrimary Concerns

Initial notification

Recovery and identification of remains

Return of personal effects

Information sharing

Initial notification

Recovery and identification of remains

Return of personal effects

Information sharing

Family Assistance TasksFamily Assistance Tasks

Family Assistance Center

JFSOC

Family Briefings

Victim Identification

Site Visit

Personal Effects

Long-term information sharing

– 800 number, email, website

Family Assistance Center

JFSOC

Family Briefings

Victim Identification

Site Visit

Personal Effects

Long-term information sharing

– 800 number, email, website

Victim Support TasksVictim Support Tasks

VST 1: NTSB Tasks VST 2: Airline Tasks VST 3: Family Care and Mental

Health VST 4: Victim Identification,

Forensic and Medical Services VST 5: Assisting Families of

Foreign Victims VST 6: Communications VST 7: Assisting Victims of Crime

VST 1: NTSB Tasks VST 2: Airline Tasks VST 3: Family Care and Mental

Health VST 4: Victim Identification,

Forensic and Medical Services VST 5: Assisting Families of

Foreign Victims VST 6: Communications VST 7: Assisting Victims of Crime

TDA: SummaryTDA: Summary

Help victims and their families Coordinate and provide

additional resources to airline and local government

Interagency cooperation Preserve local responsibility and

jurisdiction Personnel experienced in

transportation disaster management

Help victims and their families Coordinate and provide

additional resources to airline and local government

Interagency cooperation Preserve local responsibility and

jurisdiction Personnel experienced in

transportation disaster management

Selected NTSB-TDA ResponsesSelected NTSB-TDA Responses(1996-2005)(1996-2005)

Aviation

Rail

Highway

Marine

Pipeline

Point Mugu: Alaska Air 261

Shanksville: United 93

Wilkes-Barre: Executive Air

Eveleth: Sen Wellstone charter

Little Rock: American 1420

Kirksville: Corporate Air

Montrose: Scenic Air

Arlington: American 77

Charlotte: Air Midwest 5481

Tallahassee: Fed Ex 1478

Baltimore: Water taxi

Rhode Island: Egyptair 990New York:

American 11 and United 175

Hot Sprrings: “Duck” sinking

Tillamook: “Taki Too”

Little River: “Morning Dew”

Miami: “Ecstasy” fire

Old Bridge: Bus accident

New Orleans: Tour bush crash

Webbers Falls: Bridge collapse

Santa Monica: Car into crowd

Bourbonnais: Amtrak crash

Carlsbad: Explosion

Hawaii: USS Greenville and Ehime Maru

Belle Harbor: American 587

Dillingham: Charter

Meadview: Helicopter

Hillsboro: Gov. Carnahan

Aspen: Gulfstream

Strasburg: OSU Charter

Maui: Helicopter

Aberdeen: Payne Stewart

Turrell: Bus crash

Gulf of Mexico: Helicopter

Texas: Shuttle Columbia

Vineyard Haven: JFK Jr.

Palm Beach: Kingair

Volcano: Big Island Air

New York: Staten Island

ferry

Marine City: Beech 65

Macdona: UP and BNSF

Graniteville: NS Derailment/Hazmat

Glendale: Metrolink accident

Pueblo: Circuit City

2004-05 Aviation Responses

2005• Feb 16, Pueblo,CO Citation 560 crash; Circuit City jet 8 fatal• Feb 2, Teterboro, NJ Bombardier runway overrun 8 injured

 

2004• Oct 24, Martinsville, VA NASCAR Beech King crash 10 fatal• Oct 19, Kirksville, MO Corporate Air 5966 13 fatal, 2

injured• Oct 15, Jeff City, MO Pinnacle Airlines crash 2 fatal• Aug 13, Florence, KY DHL/Convair cargo crash 1 fatal• Aug 3, Lakeway, TXPiper twin-engine crash 6 fatal • July 2, Panama: Assistance for crash of Medevac flight 7 fatal • Mar 23, Gulf of Mexico Sikorsky helicopter accident 10 fatal• Mar 21, Peyote, TX Medevac helicopter accident 4 fatal

2004-05 Modal Responses

Highway Accidents

Apr 18, 2005, Arlington, VA School bus and trash truck collision 2 fatal

Oct 9, 2004, Turrell, AR Motorcoach overturned off I-55 14 fatal,16 injured

Jan 13, 2004, Elkridge, MD I-95 Tanker Truck Accident 4 fatalities

Railroad Accidents

Jan 26, 2005, Glendale, CA Collision w/automobile and derailment 13 fatal

Jan 6, 2005, Graniteville, SC NS derailment/hazmat release 9 fatal

Jun 28, 2004, Macedona, TX UP and BNSF collision 3 fatal

Apr 6, 2004, Flora, MS Amtrak derailment on CNIC track 1 fatal

Marine Accidents

Mar 6, 2004, Baltimore, MD Water taxi capsizing 5 fatal

Interactive Site Map

Air Midwest 5481

Charlotte, NC

January 2003

Produced by FBI ERT

NTSB/DMORTInteragency Agreement

DMORT Responses

Transportation• United Express 5925 (1996)

• Comair 3272 (1997)

• Korean Air 801 (1997)

• Egyptair 990 (1999)

• Amtrak crash (1999)

• Alaska Air 261 (2000)

• Executive Air (2000)

• United 93 (2001)

• WTC (2001)

• American 587 (2001)

• Air Midwest 5481 (2002)

• Shuttle Columbia (2003)

• Corporate Airlines 5966 (2004)

Other Events• Hardin, cemetery flood (1993)

• Albany cemetery flood (1994)

• Hurricane Marilyn (1995)

• Oklahoma City bombing (1995)

• Texas Floods (1998)

• Tarboro cemetery flood (1999)

• Oklahoma Tornadoes (1999)

• World Trade Towers (2001)

• Noble crematorium (2002)

• RI Nightclub fire (2003)

NTSB/DMORT Interagency Agreement

• Signed Jan 2005• NTSB Chairman• DHS Response Branch Chief• Terms for DMORT support of

NTSB responses

NTSB/DMORT Agreement

• Activate appropriate NDMS personnel, supplies, and equipment

• Assist in:– management of victim identification

– related TDA and mortuary activities

• Requests for DMORT services made at any time, including after hours or during holidays

NTSB/DMORT SOPs

• Handling of remains

• Management of victim data

• Process of documenting remains

• Methods used in identification

• Medicolegal interpretations– cause and manner of death

– when requested by NTSB

NTSB/DMORT SOPs

• FAC role in gathering antemortem data and next of kin contact information

• Procedures for reassociaton, embalming and release

• Produce final reports documenting each identification and medico-legal interpretation 

• Procedures consistent with those accepted by the forensic community

NTSB/DMORT SOPs

• DMORT and NDMS will provide after-action report to NTSB

• Deviation from DMORT SOPs must be approved by NTSB TDA

NTSB/DMORT SOPs

• First Steps– June meeting of group to create SOPs

– Use existing documents

– FBI and AFDIL roles

• Review by team leaders and outside forensic group

• Publish on DMORT/NDMS website

• Include as annex in EMI MFI Train-the-Trainer

• Promote to medical examiners/coroners

NTSB Academy• Transportation Disaster Response

– Emergency Responders

– Airports

– Mass Fatality Incidents for Medicolegal Professionals

– Family Assistance

www.ntsb.gov/academy

Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance

202-314-6185

assistance@ntsb.gov

www.ntsb.gov/family

Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance

202-314-6185

assistance@ntsb.gov

www.ntsb.gov/family