2026 Annual Conference Program

National Transportation Safety Board Processes and Incident Investigation

Speaker
Adolfo Rodrigues

Speaker
David Rodriguez

Speaker
Ruben Payan

This presentation will provide a formal overview of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), outlining the agency’s role, organizational identity, and statutory responsibilities. It will begin with a concise history of the NTSB and an explanation of our mission to advance transportation safety across all modes.

The session will then describe the NTSB investigative process, including accident notification, on‑scene operations, evidence collection, analysis, and the determination of probable cause. To illustrate this process, we will examine a detailed case study of the rear‑end train collision in Granite Canyon, Wyoming, highlighting the investigative methodology and key safety issues identified.

The presentation will conclude with an overview of the NTSB’s final products, including accident reports, safety recommendations, and advocacy initiatives, as well as a summary of the public resources available to stakeholders, industry partners, and the general public.

Adolfo Rodrigues

Railroad Accident Investigator, NTSB

Adolfo Rodrigues is a Railroad Accident Investigator in the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations at the National Transportation Safety Board. He joined the NTSB in 2023 and has 19 years of railroad industry experience, with extensive expertise in signal and train control systems, grade crossing warning systems, and railroad operations.

David Rodriguez

Railroad Accident Investigator, NTSB

David Rodriguez is a railroad accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board. He joined the NTSB in 2024 as an investigator for the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations.

Ruben Payan

Supervisory Railroad Accident Investigator, NTSB

Ruben Payan is a supervisory railroad accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board. He joined the NTSB in 1997 as an Electrical Engineer for the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations. During his time with the NTSB, Ruben worked three of those years for the Vehicle Recorder Division in the Office of Research and Engineering.