NTSB party 2

Q: Explain the NTSB Party Process and how it assists the NTSB in the investigative process.
Detail the limits, specifications, and reasons behind the process.
At the discretion of the investigator-in-charge (IIC), the NTSB may invite various
qualified and interested organizations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were
involved in the accident or incident, and who can provide suitable qualified technical personnel
actively to assist in the investigation, to participate as parties to the fact-finding phase of the
NTSB investigation. Participation as a party to an NTSB investigation is a privilege and confers
no rights or benefits. The “party system” utilized by the NTSB to investigate accidents has been
in use for decades, primarily because it is the most effective investigatory process for major
transportation accidents. Parties are asked to participate in an NTSB investigation because the
IIC believes they have unique knowledge or technical expertise, relevant to the investigation,
that will assist NTSB staff in developing the most complete and accurate factual record. Only
those party employees who have suitable and needed technical qualifications will be permitted to
work on the NTSB investigation.
There are other, ancillary advantages to the “party system.” In addition to the synergistic
and cooperative effects that arise from use of the “party system,” a collateral purpose is to ensure
that, with appropriate coordination with the NTSB, responsible officials of party organizations
whose products or services were involved in the accident or incident will have access to
information necessary to expeditiously initiate any necessary preventive and/or corrective
actions.
Parties and party participants may not withhold any information pertaining to the
accident, or in any manner relevant to the investigation, from the NTSB. Parties and party
participants in the investigation shall be responsive to the direction of NTSB personnel and may

lose party status if they conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the investigation or do not
comply with NTSB instructions.
Each participating party will designate a party coordinator (spokesman) for its
organization. The party coordinator will be the NTSB’s direct and official point-of-contact for
the party and should, therefore, be available to the IIC at all times during the on-scene
investigation and periodically available on short notice during the post on-scene phase of the
investigation. This party coordinator must have sufficient status and authority within his/her
organization to effect a complete and timely response with minimal need for higher approval or
coordination in response to a request of the IIC. During the on-scene phase of the investigation,
and any additional field investigation activities, party coordinators are responsible for the
behavior of their organization’s employees or representatives.
All participants in an NTSB investigation (with the exception of representatives from
federal regulatory agencies