49 CFR § 845.5 - Board of inquiry.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s845.5"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 845.5 - Board of inquiry."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "845.5"
section_name: "Board of inquiry."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD"
part_number: "845"
part_name: "RULES OF PRACTICE IN TRANSPORTATION: INVESTIGATIVE HEARINGS; MEETINGS, REPORTS, AND PETITIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Sec. 515, Pub. L. 106-554, App. C, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-153 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note); 49 U.S.C. 1112, 1113(f), 1116, 1131, unless otherwise noted."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 80287, Dec. 24, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "845"
---


# 845.5 Board of inquiry.

(a) *Composition of board of inquiry.* The board of inquiry shall consist of a chairman of the board of inquiry, as specified in paragraph (c) of this section, and other members in accordance with Board policy.

(b) *Duties of board of inquiry.* The board of inquiry shall examine witnesses and secure, in the form of a public record, facts pertaining to the accident or incident under investigation and surrounding circumstances and conditions from which the Board may determine probable cause and may formulate recommendations and/or other documents for corrective or preventative action.

(c) *Chairman of board of inquiry.* The chairman of the board of inquiry, or his or her designee, shall have the following powers:

(1) To designate parties to the investigative hearing and revoke such designations;

(2) To open, continue, or adjourn the investigative hearing;

(3) To determine the admissibility of and to receive evidence and to regulate the course of the investigative hearing;

(4) To dispose of procedural requests or similar matters; and

(5) To take any other appropriate action to ensure the orderly conduct of the investigative hearing.