Abstract: A crane monitoring system and method is characterized by a plurality of sensors mounted to a crane which communicate data to an on-board control unit. The control unit is characterized by having “black box” functionality. A tip switch is mounted in parallel relation to the vertical portion of a hoist cable below the boom tip. The control unit processes and stores input data from the sensors which will indicate unsafe crane conditions, defined as alarm events such as dragging and extrication events. Each stored event has a time and date stamp. Upon detection of an alarm event, the control unit logs data from the sensors into a non-volatile memory, along with the data from a period of time prior to the alarm event. Data is stored continuously until the alarm event clears. Additional data is stored for a period of time after the conclusion of the alarm event.