Journal of Accident Investigation

About The Cover
Featured on the cover is a Boeing 747. NTSB
accident investigations in all modes, including
aviation, use a variety of investigative techniques
that are discussed in this issue, including wreckage
examination, vehicle recorder analysis, and vehicle
performance simulations and animations.
Editorial Policy
Research/Technical Articles
The NTSB Journal will publish research and technical articles on accident investigations
that may be of interest to professionals in safety, accident investigation, engineering, and the
behavioral sciences. Papers may be empirical or concerned with the development and use of
accident investigation methods, techniques, or technologies. All papers should have a strong
scientific or technical basis and be related to accident investigation or transportation safety
analysis.
Organization of material for empirical investigations should follow standard reporting
format: problem, method, results, discussion, and summary. Papers discussing accident
investigation methods, techniques, or technologies should include a clear and concise
description of the method, technique, or technology that uses accident data and information
to illustrate the approach and a discussion of the added benefit the approach brings to
accident investigation or transportation safety analysis.
Public Forums, Symposiums, and Hearings
The NTSB Journal will publish papers describing public forums, symposiums, and hearings
conducted by NTSB. The papers will describe the purpose of the event, the participants, and
the topics covered by the event. The paper should include clear and concise statements of
the areas of open discussion, topics identified for further analysis, conclusions reached, and
any recommendations that were made as a result of the event.
Special Features
Articles that treat policy issues related to transportation safety will be accepted for
consideration as special features of the Journal. These papers may be solicited from both
internal and external sources. These articles should represent a balanced view of the various
aspects of an important safety issue.
Business of the Academy
The Journal will include short reports of major developments, news, events, research
efforts, and announcements of upcoming courses, forums, symposiums, and topical public
hearings.
Editorial Board
The Editorial Board comprises the NTSB Managing Director, the Director of the Office
of Research and Engineering, and the Chief of the Safety Studies and Statistical Analysis
Division. The Editorial Board may solicit critiques or counterpoints on matters open to
debate. Unsolicited articles may be accepted subject to space availability. Special features
may be edited for suitability and fit.
Guidelines for Submissions to the Journal
• Submissions to the NTSB Journal must be submitted as Word documents. Any documents
submitted as PDF files will be returned to the author for reformatting.
• Graphics should be submitted in native format, preferably as high-resolution 300 dpi files
in Jpeg or Tiff format.
• NTSB staff should ensure that text is edited to comply with the NTSB Style Guide prior
to submission.
• Submissions must include a brief biography of all authors, including the following
information: full professional name (initials are acceptable), professional titles (e.g.,
Ph.D., M.D.), education, and a brief description of professional experience specific to
the subject of the article. Including an e-mail address or point of contact information is
recommended but optional.
2 NTSB JOURNAL OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, SPRING 2006; VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1