Which agency is primarily responsible for investigating aircraft accidents?

• A. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• B. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• C. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• D. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Answer: (A)

The primary idea is identifying who investigates aircraft accidents. In the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board is the independent agency responsible for conducting the official investigation into civil aviation accidents, determining the probable cause, and issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. The FAA, while the safety regulator overseeing certification, airworthiness, and operations, gathers information and supports investigations but does not serve as the lead investigator. NOAA handles weather and environmental data, not accident investigations, and DHS focuses on security and emergency response rather than the technical investigation of aviation accidents.