NTSB TO RELEASE FACTUAL REPORTS ON FEDEX LANDING ACCIDENT IN MEMPHIS

As part of its continuing investigation into an accident involving a FedEx Boeing MD-10-10 aircraft (N364FE) while landing in Memphis, Tennessee on December 18, 2003, the National Transportation Safety Board will open a public docket and release a series of factual reports on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at 11:00 am (EDT).

The freighter, being operated as flight 647 from Oakland, California, experienced a collapsed right main landing gear after touchdown; the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The right wing was subsequently destroyed by fire. Of the two flight crewmembers and five passengers on board the aircraft, two received minor injuries.

The information being released is factual in nature and does not provide any analysis. It will include investigative group reports in the following areas - Operations, Airworthiness, Survival Factors and Cockpit Voice Recorder (including a transcript of the recording).

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., Tuesday, May 25, 2004 (EDT). Docket material also can be obtained from the NTSB's Public Inquiries Branch by calling (202) 314-6551, or from General Microfilm, Inc., (301) 929- 8888.

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

NTSB Media Contact: Ted Lopatkiewicz, (202) 314-6100
lopatt@ntsb.gov