NTSB: Amtrak engineer 'distracted' during deadly Philadelphia crash

Monday, May 16, 2016
Mallory Hoff has more from Penn Station.
PHILADELPHIA (WABC) -- The NTSB has concluded that a "distraction" caused the engineer of Amtrak 188 to lose situational awareness prior to last year's deadly derailment in Philadelphia, according to sources.

Sources say part of the reason the train derailed was due to engineer Brandon Bostian being distracted by radio traffic about a rock throwing incident involving a SEPTA train.

Officials will hold a board meeting Tuesday to discuss the findings, and they are expected to announce the presence of contributing factors that made the crash worse.

Authorities eliminated a number of potential causes for the distraction, such as a cell phone, but it's believed radio communications caused the distraction. They will say it is also clear that positive train control would have prevented the accident.

Sources say, according to the NTSB's findings, Bostian was worried because a friend had lost partial eyesight in a rock throwing incident.
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none
The NTSB released images from a camera onboard Amtrak 188, which crashed in Philadelphia in May, 2015, killing 8 people.none

As for the train's crash worthiness, officials are expected to announce that there were issues with the emergency windows and that window ejections resulted in fatalities.
[Ads /]
The NTSB is expected to issue a number of recommendations, including ways to increase safety measures and increased training.



The May 2015 crash killed eight people and injured 200. The New York-bound Northeast Regional train entered a sharp curve at 106 mph - more than twice the speed limit - before careening off the tracks.
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt on the scene of the Amtrak train 188 derailment in Philadelphia, Pa.none
NTSB IIC Mike Flanigon briefs Vice Chairman Dinh-Zarr on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188 Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
NTSB Recorder Specialist Cassandra Johnson works with officials on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188 Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
The NTSB Go Team arrives on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188 Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
Emergency personnel gather near the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work at the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
May 14, 2015: Cranes remove damaged cars two days after Amtrak Train 188 derailed and crashed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.WPVI
May 14, 2015: Cranes remove damaged cars two days after Amtrak Train 188 derailed and crashed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.WPVI
May 14, 2015: Cranes remove damaged cars two days after Amtrak Train 188 derailed and crashed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.WPVI
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
Emergency personnel gather near the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
NTSB Member Robert Sumwalt on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt briefs the media in Philadelphia, Pa.none
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt briefs the media in Philadelphia, Pa.none
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
First daylight aerials of the deadly Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel work the scene of a deadly train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
A crime scene investigator looks inside a train car after a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Officers gather at the scene of a train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel transport a person at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel transport a person at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Officers gather at the scene of a train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel transport a victim at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Officers survey the scene of a train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
A passenger is carried following an Amtrak train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City. (AP Photo/Paul Cheung)none
An Amtrak train crashed Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City. (AP Photo/Paul Cheung)none
Passengers of an Amtrak train that crashed gather Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City. (AP Photo/Paul Cheung)none
Vehicles surround the scene of an Amtrak train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York City.none
A passenger from an Amtrak train that crashed is helped Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City.none

The railroad has apologized for the crash and an emotional Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman told Congress afterward that Amtrak was responsible. The train's engineer has said he couldn't explain why the train kept accelerating after he applied the brake.

According to a previously released transcript of his interview with federal accident investigators, Bostian said the last thing he remembers is pushing the throttle forward to pick up speed and then braking when he felt the train going too fast into a sharp curve.

When he realized the train was about to derail, Bostian said he was holding tightly to the controls and thinking, "Well, this is it, I'm going over." Sources say the NTSB found that Bostian may have thought he'd already passed the curve when he sped up.
VIDEO: Scene of Amtrak 188 crash

The train's data recorder shows that at about 55 seconds - a mile and a half before the Frankford Junction curve, one of the sharpest in Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Bostian applied full throttle and held it there for about 30 seconds. The train reached a speed of about 95 mph.

He then slightly lowered the throttle for two seconds before returning to full throttle and holding it there for another 20 seconds. Three seconds before the train derailed, at a speed of 106 mph, Bostian applied the emergency brake.

That reduced the speed to 102 mph, but by then it was too late. Four of the train's seven cars and its locomotive derailed in a tangled heap.
Rachel Jacobs, CEO of Philadelphia based ApprenNet, was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.none
U,S. naval Academy Midshipman Justin Zemser was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.none
Derrick E. Griffith, acting dean of student affairs at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia.none
Abid Gilani, a Wells Fargo executive, was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.none
Associated Press staffer Jim Gaines was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.none
Bob Gildersleeve of Maryland was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.none
Laura Finamore of Long Island was among the people killed in a deadly Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 12, 2015.WPVI
May 14, 2015: Cranes remove damaged cars two days after Amtrak Train 188 derailed and crashed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.WPVI
May 14, 2015: Cranes remove damaged cars two days after Amtrak Train 188 derailed and crashed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.WPVI
May 14, 2015: Cranes remove damaged cars two days after Amtrak Train 188 derailed and crashed in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.WPVI
NTSB Member Robert Sumwalt on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
NTSB Recorder Specialist Cassandra Johnson works with officials on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188 Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
The NTSB Go Team arrives on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188 Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt briefs the media in Philadelphia, Pa.none
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt briefs the media in Philadelphia, Pa.none
National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt on the scene of the Amtrak train 188 derailment in Philadelphia, Pa.none
NTSB IIC Mike Flanigon briefs Vice Chairman Dinh-Zarr on the scene of the Amtrak Train #188 Derailment in Philadelphia, PAnone
Emergency personnel gather near the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work at the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel gather near the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
May 13, 2015: Chopper 6 HD was over the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia scene the morning after an Amtrak train derailed.WPVI
First daylight aerials of the deadly Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel work the scene of a deadly train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
A crime scene investigator looks inside a train car after a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.AP
Officers gather at the scene of a train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel transport a person at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel transport a person at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Officers gather at the scene of a train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel transport a victim at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personnel help a passenger at the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia.none
Officers survey the scene of a train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
Emergency personel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.none
A passenger is carried following an Amtrak train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City. (AP Photo/Paul Cheung)none
An Amtrak train crashed Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City. (AP Photo/Paul Cheung)none
Passengers of an Amtrak train that crashed gather Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City. (AP Photo/Paul Cheung)none
Vehicles surround the scene of an Amtrak train crash Tuesday, May 12, 2015, near Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York City.none
A passenger from an Amtrak train that crashed is helped Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. Train 188 was traveling from Washington to New York City.none

Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.