Why may wreckage be moved prior to custody by the NTSB?

• A. To salvage the wreckage for sale
• B. To protect the wreckage from further damage
• C. To improve access for maintenance crews
• D. To clear the scene for immediate takeoff operations

Answer: (B)

Preserving evidence and preventing further damage is the central idea. When an accident occurs, investigators need intact, uncontaminated wreckage to determine the cause. Moving the wreckage before the NTSB takes custody may be done to shield it from weather, corrosion, further physical damage, or other hazards that could degrade or destroy critical pieces of evidence. This helps ensure that the investigation has reliable data to analyze. Moving wreckage for salvage, to aid maintenance crews, or to clear the scene for takeoff operations would undermine evidence integrity or safety and aren’t appropriate reasons for pre-custody relocation.