NTSB TO RELEASE FACTUAL REPORTS ON KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI COMMUTER ACCIDENT

Washington, DC -- As part of its continuing investigation into an accident involving a twin-engine airplane in Kirksville, Missouri last October, the National Transportation Safety Board will open a public docket and release a series of factual reports on Friday, March 18, 2005, at 11:00 am.

On October 19, 2004 the Jetstream 32-twin-engine turbo airplane, N875JX, operating as a feeder commuter for American Airlines, with two crewmembers and 13 passengers, crashed on an instrumental approach to Kirksville Regional Airport. There were 13 fatal and two serious injuries.

The information being released is factual in nature and does not provide any analysis. It will include investigative group factual reports, interview transcripts, cockpit voice recorder transcript, and other documents from the investigation. Additional material will be added to the docket as it becomes available. Analysis of the accident, along with conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come at a later date when the final report on the investigation is completed.

For news media representatives, a CD-ROM containing the docket material will be available from the Office of Public Affairs, NTSB Headquarters (6th floor), 490 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. beginning at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 18, 2005. Docket material also can be obtained from the NTSB's Public Inquiries Branch by calling (202) 314-6551, or from General Microfilm, Inc., (304) 267-5830.

This will be a document release only; no interviews will be conducted.

Media Contact: Terry N. Williams (202) 314-6100
Williat@ntsb.gov