The National Transportation Safety Board released its annual report to Congress yesterday, providing a summary of accident investigations and safety recommendations in the past calendar year, according to an NTSB press release.

2008 highlights include:

• 19 major accident investigations, including 7 aviation, 3 highway, 3 marine, 4 rail, and 2 pipeline
• 221 regional accident investigations, including 206 aviation, 7 highway, 4 marine, and 4 rail
• 18 international aviation accident investigations in which support was provided in accordance with international treaty
• 34 major reports and accident briefs adopted, including 13 aviation, 7 highway, 3 marine, 10 rail and 1 pipeline
• 129 safety recommendations issued
• 67 safety recommendations closed

“The calendar year 2008 was an extremely active one,” remarked Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker, “as Board staff traveled to accident sites all over the U.S. involving every mode of transportation, lending their expertise and investigative skills.” Rosenker continued, “We also completed a number of significant accident investigations, including the August 2007 collapse of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge, and issued numerous safety recommendations in our continued quest to facilitate improvements in transportation safety throughout the entire nation.”

“I am especially pleased that the Partnership for Public Service rated the NTSB as one of the top ten federal government workplaces in its 2009 rankings, as a clear indication of the satisfaction all of us here at the Board receive from the important work we do here every day,” Rosenker concluded.

The 2008 report includes several new sections, including a review of agency accomplishments in the areas of international outreach, information technology, and planning and performance. The 2008 report also includes enhanced graphics, maps and statistical charts to provide readers with greater detail and clarity on all Board activities.

A copy of the 2008 Annual Report to Congress may be found at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2009/SPC0901.htm.