Safety Investigations Podcast

NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator Lorenda Ward briefs media in Honolulu, HI, October 9, 2021,  prior to the start of the TransAir B-737 cargo jet underwater recovery operation.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up the best I could..

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a video explaining their findings on the October 26, 2019 hydrogen sulfide release at the Aghorn Operating waterflood station in Odessa, Texas.

The release fatally injured an Aghorn employee who was working at the facility that evening, as well as his spouse who attempted to locate him at the facility after he did not return home.

All audio is courtesy: U.S. Chemical Safety Board.  

NTSB Meeting: Jun 29, 2021, Sinking of Scandies Rose

The National Transportation Safety Board held a virtual public board meeting June 29 to determine the probable cause for the 2019 sinking of the fishing vessel Scandies Rose.

The Scandies Rose sank Dec. 31, 2019, 2.5 miles south of Sutwik Island, Alaska. The vessel had a crew of seven; two were rescued and five others missing after the accident were never found.

During the meeting the NTSB's five-member board voted on the findings, probable cause and recommendations as well as any changes to the draft final report.

In keeping with established federal and local social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while also ensuring the NTSB's compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, the board meeting for this event was webcast to the public, with the board members and investigative staff meeting virtually.

Safety Investigations news for 6/25/2021

Safety Investigations news for 6/18/2021

Safety Investigations news for 6/11/2021

Safety Investigations news for 6/4/2021

Safety Investigations news brief for 5/28/2021

Our roadways were designed to move motor vehicles safely and efficiently. They often do not fully meet the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists-our vulnerable road users (VRUs). As a result, we are seeing increasing dangers to this population and too many accidents involving vehicles and VRUs.

We must use a Safe System approach to better protect VRUs and ensure safe roads for all. A Safe System addresses all aspects of traffic safety: road users, vehicles, speeds, roads, and post crash care. We must make better safety investments, from road treatments, vehicle design, and collision-avoidance systems to strong traffic safety laws and robust education efforts to mitigate injury risks for all road users.

Unlike motor vehicles, VRUs lack an external structure to protect them when crashes occur, and they're more likely to suffer a serious injury or even death. Proven, effective countermeasures are being underused at the federal, state, and local levels to protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. We have long been concerned with the threat to VRUs. In 2018 and 2019, we published three reports on the risks to this vulnerable population and issued more than 30 new recommendations focused on reducing VRU traffic deaths.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and breaks removed.

Safety Investigations news brief for 5/21/2021

Safety Investigations news brief for 5/14/2021

Safety Investigations news brief for 5/07/2021

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) held a public board meeting on May 4, 2021 to adopt the final report on the 2019 hydrogen sulfide release at the Aghorn Operating waterflood station in Odessa, Texas.

The release fatally injured an Aghorn employee who was working at the facility that evening, as well as his spouse who attempted to locate him at the facility after he did not return home.

All audio is courtesy: U.S. Chemical Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and meeting breaks removed.

Safety Investigations news brief for 4/30/2021

Safety Investigations news brief for 4/23/2021

The National Transportation Safety Board announced its intent to hold a public board meeting April 20, 2021, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, to determine the probable cause of a fatal midair collision involving two air tour operators in Alaska.

On May 13, 2019, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otter collided in flight about eight miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The DHC-2 pilot and four passengers suffered fatal injuries; the DHC-3 pilot suffered minor injuries, nine passengers were seriously injured, and one passenger suffered fatal injuries.

The NTSB’s five-member board will vote on the findings, probable cause and recommendations as well as any changes to the draft final report.

In keeping with established federal and local social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while also ensuring the NTSB’s compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, the board meeting for this event will be webcast to the public, with the board members and investigative staff meeting virtually. There will be no physical gathering to facilitate the board meeting.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up the best I could manage and meeting breaks removed.

NTSB Chairman Sumwalt and Aaron Sauer, Acting Deputy Regional Director, Central Region, conduct Q&A with journalists following completion of the April 20, 2021, board meeting for the NTSB's investigation of the fatal, May 13, 2019, mid-air collision near Ketchikan, Alaska.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and meeting breaks removed.

Safety Investigations news brief for 4/16/2021

The National Transportation Safety Board announced its intent to hold a public board meeting April 6, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, to finalize its 2021 – 2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.  

The NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements is a communication strategy through which the agency identifies its top safety improvements that when made will prevent accidents, reduce the number and severity of injuries, and save lives.  

In keeping with established federal and local social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while also ensuring the NTSB’s compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, the board meeting for the Most Wanted List will be webcast to the public, with the board members and NTSB staff meeting virtually. There will be no physical gathering to facilitate the board meeting.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and breaks removed.

NTSB Board Member Tom Chapman briefs the media on the investigation of the the Palmer, Alaska Helicopter Crash March 29, 2021.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and breaks removed.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt conducted a virtual media briefing to answer questions following completion of a public board meeting held March 23, 2021, to consider the draft report on recommendations for the implementation of stricter regulatory requirements for some types of revenue passenger-carrying general aviation (Part 91) operations.

The media availability was conducted using Teams Live Event and the Chairman participated by phone.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and meeting breaks removed.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 13, 2021) ­– The National Transportation Safety Board issued Safety Report 20/01 “Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles” Jan. 13, 2021. This video summarizes that report and focuses on the safety risks to first and second responders posed by electric vehicles that are powered by high-voltage, lithium-ion batteries.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and breaks removed.

ARNG Briefing on Mar. 6, 2021 on the Feb. 2, 2021 UH-60 Crash preliminary findings.

All audio is courtesy: Idaho National Guard.  The audio was cleaned up as best as I could.  The original was low volume with a lot of background noise.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 22, 2021) ­– NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt conducted a virtual media briefing Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, to provide an update on the agency’s investigation of Saturday’s engine failure incident on United Airlines flight 328.  

United Airlines flight 328 experienced a right engine failure shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport. The airplane returned safely to Denver; none of the 229 passengers or 10 crewmembers were injured. The flight's destination was Honolulu, Hawaii.

NTSB investigators from the Denver regional office along with another investigator who lives in the area, plus the investigator-in-charge and a powerplant specialist from NTSB headquarters, responded to the incident and began the investigation.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and meeting breaks removed.

NTSB Meeting Dec 1 2020 Collision Between Pickup Truck with Trailer and Group of Motorcycles

Seven motorcyclists died and three were seriously injured when the commercial truck, a 2016 Ram 2500 pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer, crossed the centerline of US-2 and collided with the motorcyclists traveling in the opposite direction.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and meeting breaks removed.

NTSB Meeting: Jan. 12, 2021, Atmos Energy Corporation Natural Gas-Fueled Explosion

A natural-gas fueled explosion at about 6:45 a.m., (CST) Feb. 23, destroyed the single-family home at 3534 Espanola Drive, Dallas, killed a 12-year-old girl and injured several others.

The NTSB decided to investigate the accident and a team of three investigators arrived on-scene the morning of Feb. 25.  During the initial assessment of the accident site, investigators learned of two other homes in the immediate vicinity that were damaged by two separate explosions/fires two days earlier.

All audio is courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board.  The audio was cleaned up and meeting breaks removed.