Nov. 11--Pinnacle Airlines Corp. said Thursday it will comply with a demand by federal safety investigators for previously withheld records relating to qualifications of a pilot who crashed a Colgan Air plane outside Buffalo, N.Y. in 2009.
The Memphis-based company was responding to a National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) request for e-mails reflecting an internal debate about whether the late Capt. Marvin Renslow was properly qualified to fly the 70-seat turboprop.
The e-mails surfaced recently as part of a wrongful-death lawsuit filed on behalf of victims' families. The NTSB previously concluded errors by Renslow and his co-pilot were at fault in the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407, operated by Colgan, a Pinnacle subsidiary. The crash killed 49 aboard the plane and one person on the ground.
NTSB chairwoman Deborah A.P. Hersman's statement Thursday said in part that investigators had no reason to believe the new records would change their final report and probable cause determination.
Pinnacle said in a statement that the airline shared the substance of the e-mails with investigators, but not the actual documents.
"The information the e-mails reference was in fact shared with the NTSB investigators prior to and during testimony," the statement said. "We intend to comply with the NTSB request and remain confident in our full compliance with FAA regulations governing our training processes, then and now."
The e-mails showed Renslow was initially blocked from training to upgrade from Saab 340 captain to Q400 captain in September 2008; he was cleared for the training a month later after completing an extra proficiency line check flight.
Hersman's statement said:
"Two weeks ago, we were disappointed to learn of internal documents released by Pinnacle Airlines Corp., parent company of Colgan Air, that were not provided to the NTSB during the course of our investigation into the February 12, 2009, crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. The NTSB investigation began immediately after the crash and concluded with a public meeting on February 2, 2010.
"Today, in a letter to Pinnacle Airlines Corp., the NTSB requested that the company make available any and all information regarding the training and technical qualifications of the Captain and First Officer on-board Flight 3407.
"While the content of the newly released e-mail exchanges appears to be consistent with information our investigators learned through other means during the course of the investigation, it is critical that the factual record of this accident be complete. The previously undisclosed documents do not appear to give reason for reconsideration of the NTSB's final report and probable cause determination."
--Wayne Risher: 529-2874
Copyright 2011 - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.
