The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was established by Congress to investigate transportation accidents, determine their specific cause, and make recommendations to prevent similar mishaps in the future.

More than two decades ago, the agency warned FAA about the limitations of the “see and avoid” method used by glider pilots and others flying under VFR. The agency’s analysis of past accidents conclusively determined that the use of VFR alone posed the highest risk of mid-air collisions. Yet many glider pilots still rely on VFR exclusively, putting themselves and other pilots at risk.