Role of Federal Investigators
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) assumed leadership of the investigation, working in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These agencies are responsible for determining the probable cause of the accident and issuing safety recommendations.
Investigators recovered the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly referred to as “black boxes.” These devices were transported to a secure laboratory for analysis.
Focus Areas of the Investigation
According to the NTSB, investigators will examine several key factors, including:
Aircraft mechanical performance
Maintenance and inspection records
Flight crew training and communications
Weather and environmental conditions
Runway and airport systems
Operational procedures during takeoff
Preliminary radar data indicated the aircraft reached a significant ground speed but remained at low altitude before the incident. Investigators cautioned that such data represents only one piece of the overall analysis.
