The fatal Tesla Model 3 crash in Katy, Texas last week has attracted a second federal investigation.
On Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it had opened a safety investigation into the crash in coordination with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The move comes just days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed it had begun its own Special Crash Investigation, as authorities continue working to determine what exactly led to the incident that claimed the life of 76-year old Martha Avila inside the home.
The NTSB, in coordination with the Harris County Sheriff's Department, has opened a safety investigation into the June 19 crash of a Tesla Model 3 that struck a home at high speed in Katy, Texas.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 24, 2026
The crash occurred when a Tesla Model 3 left the roadway at high speed and crashed through the front wall of Avila’s home. Driver Michael Butler told investigators Autopilot was engaged at the time of the collision.
Since then, Tesla has released additional details that contradicts the allegation that the vehicle accelerated on its own.
Tesla Vice President of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy said vehicle data shows Butler manually overrode the driver-assistance system by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100%, allowing the car to reach 73 mph (117 km/h) before impact. According to Elluswamy, the accelerator remained depressed even after the collision.
The only finding thus far comes from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, who said their investigators had found no evidence of a mechanical malfunction, though the investigation remains ongoing.
While the NHTSA typically focuses on identifying potential vehicle defects and regulatory issues, the NTSB’s role is different. The independent agency investigates major transportation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. Unlike the NHTSA, the NTSB does not regulate automakers or issue recalls.
The federal investigations are expected to provide access to data that has not yet been released publicly, including vehicle telemetry, Autopilot and Full Self-Driving logs, software versions, camera footage, and other information recorded by the Model 3.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Tesla and Butler just three days after the incident. The lawsuit alleges defects in Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, claims the company failed to adequately warn drivers about the technology’s limitations, and accuses Butler of negligence.
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