Each year the NTSB provides a summary of NTSB investigative activities for the calendar year. The 2003 version has just been published.

The NTSB notes that it "is an independent agency charged with determining the probable cause of transportation accidents and promoting transportation safety. The Board investigates accidents, conducts safety studies, evaluates the effectiveness of other government agencies' programs for preventing transportation accidents, and reviews appeals of enforcement actions involving airman and seaman certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard and civil penalties actions taken by the FAA.

To help prevent accidents, save lives and reduce injuries, the Board develops safety recommendations, based on its investigations and studies, which are issued to Federal, State and local government agencies, and to industry and other organizations in a position to improve transportation safety. These recommendations are the focal point of the NTSB’s efforts to improve safety in the Nation’s transportation system."

[ANN Note: The 100 page report makes for some VERY interesting reading... we recommend you give it a look.--Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C.]

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2004/SPC0405.pdf