Jay Honeck wrote:
How does the NTSB go about researching GA accidents? Specifically,
how do they decide *when* they're going to do the investigation, and
when (or if) they are going to release information?

Our friend Blaine Andersen was killed in a crash near Grinnell, IA
last winter. See the preliminary report he

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...08X00158&key=1

Strangely, all these months later, it's still just the "preliminary"
report. This, while many accidents and incidents that have happened
since then have been given "factual" and "probable cause" reports.

Anyone understand the timing of this stuff? Anyone got experience
inside the NTSB? Blaine's family and friends are understandably
getting frustrated with the glacial pace of this investigation,
especially when compared to other more recent accidents that have been
laid to rest.

Thanks,

Over the years I've come to the completely unscientific conclusion they seem
to prioritize based on whether or not they are going to get any info out of
the investigation that will effect the greatest number of people.

As an example if there is a 172 that seems to have had a structural failure
in flight it will take priority over a one off experimental that did the
same thing.

I'd call the FSDO for the area and if you don't like or can't get an answer
from them I'd call the NTSB.