NTSB's Investigative Insights into Plane Crashes: The Elusive Truth Behind Unconclusive Cases

Introduction to NTSB Investigations

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States. Their primary goal is to understand the underlying causes of these accidents, provide recommendations to prevent future incidents, and ensure public safety. However, not all investigations lead to clear and definitive conclusions. This article explores two notable plane crashes where the NTSB's findings remained inconclusive for a time but later gained clarity through subsequent investigations.

Trans World Airlines Flight 800 - A Persistent Mystery

The Trans World Airlines Flight 800 tragedy on July 17, 1996, is one of the most controversial and perplexing cases in aviation history. The Boeing 747-100 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island, New York, killing all 230 people on board. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB believe the cause was due to an explosion of the center fuel tank, likely caused by an electrical short or spark, this conclusion was never definitively proved.

The NTSB has stated that the reconstructed aircraft will be destroyed after the investigation. The conundrum of this case highlights the challenges in conducting thorough and conclusive investigations, especially when dealing with accidents that involve complex systems like fuel tanks and electrical wiring.

United Airlines Flight 585: From Conclusive to Uncertain

Another case where the NTSB's initial investigation fell short was the crash of United Airlines Flight 585. The airplane, a Boeing 737, crashed near Colorado Springs on December 25, 1989, causing the death of all 21 people on board. Initially, the NTSB reported:

The National Transportation Safety Board after an exhaustive investigation effort could not identify conclusive evidence to explain the loss of United Airlines flight 585.

However, the NTSB did not give up. The lessons learned from the subsequent crashes of USAir Flight 427 (Also a Boeing 737) and the near-miss incident involving Eastwind Flight 517 provided valuable insights. USAir Flight 427 crashed on September 1, 1994, and Eastwind Flight 517 experienced a near-miss due to a similar issue.

The NTSB reopened its investigation and revised the report based on the new findings. The revised report concluded that the probable cause of the United 585 accident was a loss of control of the airplane resulting from the movement of the rudder surface to its blowdown limit. This was caused by a jam of the main rudder power control unit servo valve secondary slide, which had moved to an offset position from its neutral position, leading to the rudder overtravel.

The revised findings highlight the importance of continuous learning and revisiting past investigations in light of new evidence and insights. The case of United Airlines Flight 585 also underscores the complexity of aviation accidents and the need for thorough and multifaceted investigations.

Challenges and Lessons from Unconclusive Investigations

The challenges faced by the NTSB in investigating the aforementioned plane crashes offer important lessons for the aviation industry and other sectors dealing with complex systems. Some key takeaways include:

Importance of Revisiting Investigations: As new evidence emerges, revisiting past accidents can provide new insights and help in understanding the true causes of incidents. Persistent Investigation Strategies: Even when initial findings are inconclusive, persistent investigation strategies can lead to significant breakthroughs. Technological Advancements: Continuous advancements in technology can enhance the ability to conduct more thorough and precise investigations. Collaborative Efforts: Collaboration between agencies and the sharing of information can be crucial in uncovering the full truth behind accidents.

Conclusion

The cases of Trans World Airlines Flight 800 and United Airlines Flight 585 demonstrate the complexity and challenges in aviation accident investigations. While the NTSB's original investigations did not provide conclusive answers, the agency's persistence and willingness to revisit the findings led to significant advancements in understanding the underlying causes of these tragic accidents.

These examples serve as a reminder of the importance of thorough, continuous, and adaptive investigative approaches in ensuring public safety and creating a safer transportation environment.