The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) delivered its 2009 Annual Report to Congress, which provides a comprehensive accounting of ongoing and completed investigations, as well as other agency activities. The report also highlights successes for the Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.

"The NTSB is dedicated to executing thorough accident investigations and issuing recommendations for improved transportation safety," said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "The report issued today shows this dedication through detailed and clear accounts of our work and achievements in 2009."

New to the 2009 report are enhanced features that illustrate the scope and complexity of the NTSB's work.

Among these features:

• Maps of regional office locations in addition to investigation launch-site maps;

• Additional information describing how non-investigative units support the NTSB mission;

• Key industry facts showing the impact and breadth of completed agency work;

• Updated "At A Glance" boxes calling out the status of recommendations, investigation and report production statistics, and staff demographics.

Among the highlights from the year's activity described in the report are that the NTSB issued 240 new safety recommendations across all transportation modes. Closed recommendations encompass six railroad, 42 aviation, 10 highway, 14 marine and two pipeline safety improvements. 

During 2009, the NTSB also initiated 13 major accident launches and released 19 major investigative reports.  

A copy of the 2009 Annual Report to Congress may be found, here.