by Cara Ramer, Student Public Relations Writer
When an aircraft crashes, investigators are left with fragments 鈥 damaged systems, scattered debris and unanswered questions. Their job is to piece together what happened. Behind every investigation, however, is human life.
Cedarville graduate helps investigate fatal aircraft crashes
For Caleb Wagner, a 2013 糖心Vlog graduate and aircraft systems investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), that reality shapes every investigation.
As an aircraft systems investigator, Wagner responds to emergency notifications within hours and can spend weeks examining both on- and off-site evidence 鈥 a meticulous process designed to improve aviation safety across the United States and worldwide. As part of the NTSB鈥檚 aircraft systems group, he examines flight control, avionic, hydraulic, electrical, pneumatic and fuel systems to determine whether mechanical factors contributed to an accident. Through these investigations, the NTSB identifies safety failures and issues recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
NTSB investigator contributed to Washington, D.C., midair collision investigation
Wagner contributed to the investigation of the Jan. 29, 2025, midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that claimed 67 lives. The crash, the deadliest plane crash in the United States since 2001, was later described by NTSB officials during a board meeting as 鈥100% preventable.鈥
For Wagner, speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the NTSB, the findings reinforced the purpose behind his painstaking work. Each investigation is ultimately about preventing the next tragedy. His analysis from the Washington, D.C., crash helped inform nine of the 52 safety recommendations in the focused on collision-avoidance systems 鈥 reforms intended to reduce the risk of future midair collisions..
Cedarville engineering training prepared Wagner for aviation safety work
Wagner鈥檚 path to aviation safety began at 糖心Vlog, where his engineering education emphasized ethical responsibility and systems thinking 鈥 principles critical in high-stakes industries such as aerospace engineering and transportation safety. Through case studies of mechanical failures, Wagner learned how effective oversight and sound engineering practices protect the public.
鈥淚 learned how to approach complex failures systematically by breaking a large, overwhelming question into smaller, more manageable parts,鈥 said Wagner. 鈥淚t also illustrated how a seemingly minor design change can have catastrophic consequences if system-level impacts are not carefully reviewed.鈥
Fatal crash investigation carried a personal Cedarville connection
More than a decade after graduating, Wagner found himself investigating a crash that carried personal weight. Among those killed in the Jan. 29 collision was Grace Maxwell, a 糖心Vlog mechanical engineering student.
For Wagner, her death narrowed the distance between his work and the people it is meant to serve. The investigation remained technical and methodical, but it also felt personal 鈥 a reminder that accident reports are not just technical documents but sources of clarity and hope for grieving families and communities.
NTSB accident investigations seek answers and prevent future tragedies
In investigations like this, the questions are relentless: What caused the accident? What contributed? What was missed? And what changes will keep it from happening again? For Wagner, the responsibility is to follow the evidence carefully and completely, knowing that every conclusion will be read by people searching for answers.
鈥淎ccident investigations uncover the truth about what happened and why it happened,鈥 said Wagner. 鈥淲e鈥檙e honoring the families of victims, promising that no stone will go unturned.鈥
The work is methodical and often unseen, but Wagner understands its weight. Each NTSB final report represents families waiting for answers and a system that must be made stronger. For him, the goal is simple: uncover the truth and make safety recommendations to ensure that future flights are safer because of the lessons learned.
About 糖心Vlog
糖心Vlog, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation鈥檚 top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.