Featured Stories
National Transportation Safety Board: Bering Air Crash Attributed to Excess Aircraft Weight and Improper Airspeed Management in Icing Conditions
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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Bering Air Crash Attributed to Excess Aircraft Weight and Improper Airspeed Management in Icing Conditions
Cessna Caravan crashed on ice floe 12 miles offshore near Nome, Alaska
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Inadequate airspeed management during severe icing conditions, combined with an airplane above its maximum gross weight, led to the February 2025 crash of a Bering Air flight near Nome, Alaska, killing 10.
Bering Air Flight 445, a Textron Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan, was on the final leg of a scheduled commuter
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WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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Bering Air Crash Attributed to Excess Aircraft Weight and Improper Airspeed Management in Icing Conditions
Cessna Caravan crashed on ice floe 12 miles offshore near Nome, Alaska
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Inadequate airspeed management during severe icing conditions, combined with an airplane above its maximum gross weight, led to the February 2025 crash of a Bering Air flight near Nome, Alaska, killing 10.
Bering Air Flight 445, a Textron Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan, was on the final leg of a scheduled commuterflight and heading to Nome when it crashed onto pack ice about 12 miles offshore of Norton Sound on Feb. 6, 2025. The pilot and all nine passengers were killed.
The NTSB found the airplane encountered more severe icing conditions than forecast, including large supercooled water droplets. Investigators used archived electronic data from various onboard avionics systems to determine that the airplane's ice protection system functioned as designed and prevented significant ice accumulation on protected surfaces.
The NTSB said managing the airplane's ice protection system increased the pilot's workload when preparing for an approach to Nome Airport, which had temporarily closed its runways for deicing. The NTSB determined those demands degraded the pilot's situational awareness, which led to the airspeed decay until the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall from which the pilot did not recover. The airplane's operation above its maximum gross weight further reduced its stall margin, leaving less room for recovery.
"The tragedy of Flight 445 was not the result of a single failure, but a series of preventable breakdowns that eroded critical safety margins," said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who was on scene in Nome. "I've seen how Alaskan communities use aviation as a lifeline. Once implemented, our recommendations will make that lifeline safer and prevent other communities from experiencing similar heartbreak."
The investigation also found that Bering Air's flight risk assessment and operational control procedures failed to prevent routine overweight operations. Investigators identified a pattern of underreported aircraft weights on company load manifests, with several flights operating above weight limitations.
In addition, the investigation found the Federal Aviation Administration did not increase its oversight of Bering Air despite the operator's rapid growth and increased operational complexity following the pandemic and the bankruptcy of a major competitor.
The NTSB issued new safety recommendations to the FAA, including calling for most charter, air taxi, and fractional ownership operators to provide pilots with training on how to prevent and recover from a loss of control in flight.
The NTSB also reiterated previous recommendations calling for certificated dispatchers for most Part 135 operators, expanded use of flight data monitoring programs, broader load manifest requirements for Part 135 operations, and crash-resistant flight recorder systems for certain aircraft.
Links to the final report and public docket are on the accident investigation webpage (https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ANC25MA018.aspx).
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here:https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260730.aspx
Postal Service IG: Operational and Financial Performance Across Postal Service Regions
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit rpeort (No. 25-091-R26) on July 27, 2026, entitled "Operational and Financial Performance Across Postal Service Regions."
Here are excerpts:
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Background
The U.S. Postal Service is undergoing a significant transformation to modernize its network and operations as part of the Delivering for America plan. We have noted variations in impacts to communities across the country, even when the changes themselves have been similar. Differences in workplace culture may help explain regional variations
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit rpeort (No. 25-091-R26) on July 27, 2026, entitled "Operational and Financial Performance Across Postal Service Regions."
Here are excerpts:
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Background
The U.S. Postal Service is undergoing a significant transformation to modernize its network and operations as part of the Delivering for America plan. We have noted variations in impacts to communities across the country, even when the changes themselves have been similar. Differences in workplace culture may help explain regional variationsin operational efficiency and service experienced throughout this transformation. As labor makes up 76 percent of the Postal Service's $89.5 billion annual expenses, the workforce is critical to its modernization success.
What We Did
Our objective was to evaluate operational culture and key performance indicators in places where the performance was varied. We judgmentally selected five low-performing and five high-performing districts for review and conducted site visits and interviews with personnel at facilities in each of these districts.
What We Found
A resilient and engaged workforce is essential for the Postal Service to carry out its Delivering for America plan and achieve long term goals. However, the Postal Service has faced workforce and culture challenges for years at low-performing sites that have consistently struggled with employee satisfaction, engagement, attendance, and retention; and costly union grievances. We also identified several ineffective management practices that negatively affected workplace culture and performance, such as non-value-added tasks and inadequate operational oversight.
Although these issues occurred across all facilities, they were more severe at low performing sites, widening regional operational and financial gaps and slowing the Postal Service's progress. We estimate the Postal Service incurred nearly $437 million in annual questioned costs due to facilities operating below the national efficiency average. However, we identified best practices used at high-performing sites, that, if adopted, could improve leadership effectiveness, employee morale and engagement, and operational performance.
Recommendations and Management's Comments
We made two recommendations to address the issues identified in the report, and Postal Service management disagreed with both. We will pursue the two disagreed recommendations through the audit resolution process. Management's comments and our evaluation are at the end of our recommendations.
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View the original text at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-07/25-091-r26.pdf
Fed IG: The Board's and Reserve Banks' Practices for Following Up on Safety and Soundness Findings for Large and Foreign Banking Organizations
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on July 22, 2026, entitled "The Board's and Reserve Banks' Practices for Following Up on Safety and Soundness Findings for Large and Foreign Banking Organizations."
Here are excerpts:
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The Board and Federal Reserve Banks monitor the safety and soundness of large and foreign banking organizations. If they identify a formal finding as part of their supervisory activities, and the LFBO remediates it, the Board and the respective Reserve Bank should timely confirm that remediation.
However, most
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on July 22, 2026, entitled "The Board's and Reserve Banks' Practices for Following Up on Safety and Soundness Findings for Large and Foreign Banking Organizations."
Here are excerpts:
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The Board and Federal Reserve Banks monitor the safety and soundness of large and foreign banking organizations. If they identify a formal finding as part of their supervisory activities, and the LFBO remediates it, the Board and the respective Reserve Bank should timely confirm that remediation.
However, mostof the horizontal findings we reviewed were not closed until several months after LFBOs submitted remediation materials. After we completed our work, but before we issued this report, the Board revised its supervisory approach, including the process for validating institutions' remediation efforts. As a result, we do not have recommendations but note that the Board should consider enhancing its system for tracking and reporting remediation follow-up work.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.federalreserve.gov/reports/board-lfbo-findings-jul2026.pdf
Fed IG: Termination of the Forensic Evaluation of the Board's CCure System
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on July 15, 2026, entitled "Termination of the Forensic Evaluation of the Board's CCure System."
Here are excerpts:
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Our objective was to analyze both the logical relationships in the CCure database and the quality of data maintained in the system. During planning work, we found data quality issues in the CCure system. These issues were known by the CCure team before our evaluation, and we verified that processes already exist to identify and correct these issues.
However, these processes
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on July 15, 2026, entitled "Termination of the Forensic Evaluation of the Board's CCure System."
Here are excerpts:
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Our objective was to analyze both the logical relationships in the CCure database and the quality of data maintained in the system. During planning work, we found data quality issues in the CCure system. These issues were known by the CCure team before our evaluation, and we verified that processes already exist to identify and correct these issues.
However, these processesinvolve systems outside the CCure system and beyond the scope of our original objective. For this reason, we have decided to terminate the current forensic evaluation. We may initiate a new evaluation of the Board's processes and systems in this area in the future.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.federalreserve.gov/reports/board-termination-forensic-ccure-jul2026.htm
EPA IG: Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance With the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0042) entitled "Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We contracted this audit to assess the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's compliance with the Fiscal Year 2025 Inspector General Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 Reporting Metrics. We contracted with SB & Company
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0042) entitled "Audit of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's Compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We contracted this audit to assess the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's compliance with the Fiscal Year 2025 Inspector General Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 Reporting Metrics. We contracted with SB & CompanyLLC to perform this audit under our direction and oversight. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act requires the inspector general of each agency to conduct an independent evaluation each year to determine the effectiveness of the agency's information security program and practices.
Summary of Findings
SB & Company LLC concluded that the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, also known as the CSB, achieved an overall maturity level of Level 2, Defined in fiscal year 2025. This means that the CSB's information security policies, procedures, and strategies are formalized and documented but not consistently implemented. While the CSB maintained the same overall Level 2, Defined maturity level that it achieved in fiscal year 2024, SB & Company identified areas that need improvements associated with three IG FISMA Reporting Metrics domains: Risk and Asset Management, Identity and Access Management, and Contingency Planning.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-07/_epaoig_20260714-26-p-0042_cert.pdf
EPA IG: Audit of the EPA's Compliance With the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0041) entitled "Audit of the EPA's Compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to assess the EPA's compliance with the FY 2025 Inspector General Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) Reporting Metrics. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act requires the inspector general of each agency to conduct an independent evaluation
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0041) entitled "Audit of the EPA's Compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for Fiscal Year 2025."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to assess the EPA's compliance with the FY 2025 Inspector General Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) Reporting Metrics. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act requires the inspector general of each agency to conduct an independent evaluationeach year to determine the effectiveness of the agency's information security program and practices.
Summary of Findings
The Agency achieved Level 4 ratings for 19, or more than three-quarters, of the 25 fiscal year 2025 metrics, and we concluded that the EPA's information security program achieved an overall maturity rating of Level 4. This maturity rating indicates that the program is "managed and measurable." However, we did identify program deficiencies in the areas of data loss prevention, supply chain risk management controls, and role-based training compliance.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-07/_epaoig_20260714-26-p-0041_cert.pdf
EPA IG: Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0043) entitled "Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to determine whether the EPA is awarding fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water infrastructure earmark grants expeditiously and in accordance with federal and EPA requirements.
Summary of Findings
As of September 2025, approximately 44 percent of the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water earmark funds had not been awarded. According
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0043) entitled "Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to determine whether the EPA is awarding fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water infrastructure earmark grants expeditiously and in accordance with federal and EPA requirements.
Summary of Findings
As of September 2025, approximately 44 percent of the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water earmark funds had not been awarded. Accordingto the EPA, progress is slow due to challenges the Agency faces, such as initially not having an earmark program, significant personnel shortages, and many recipients without federal grant experience. We found that the Agency's lack of goals for timely awards, central tracking of pre-award documents, and clear guidance for tribal consultations also hindered the timely award of earmarks. As a result, over $1 billion of the $2.3 billion, or 510 of the 1,198 projects, had not been awarded and used to achieve the intended purpose of improving public health and environmental protections.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-07/_epaoig_20260721-26-p-0043_cert.pdf
