December 7, 1999
Web posted at: 12:28 p.m. EST (1728 GMT)

In this story: Investigation participants called into question Possible solutions suggested RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Correspondent Carl Rochelle

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The agency that investigates all U.S. plane crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board, is overloaded nearly to breaking point, according to a study by the RAND Corporation.

"If they don't get the kinds of resources that they need, accident investigations could go on much longer. They could remain unresolved and of course that does not promote the essential mission of the NTSB, which is the prevention of accidents," said Cynthia Lebow, of RAND, a Washington think tank.

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The report cited several plane crashes that remained unsolved by the NTSB, including TWA Flight 800 off Long Island, New York, in 1996 and recently, EgyptAir Flight 990 off Massachusetts.

"Certainly for the NTSB with the complexity of the aviation accidents ... that we are seeing these days, resources really are an issue," said Jane Garvey of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Investigation participants called into question

Although the study was commissioned by the NTSB itself, it criticized the board's controversial practice of letting interested parties such as aircraft manufacturers help in its investigations.

According to the report, the arrangement could create a conflict of interest since parties may ultimately face lawsuits because of the board's findings.

"They could take a position protective of their company. They might wait to see if the NTSB knows to ask them the right question or whether the answer that they've been given is the correct answer," Lebow said.

Possible solutions suggested

Possible solutions proposed by the RAND report included having the NTSB rely on other government agencies for expert help. Also recommended in the study: more staff, a bigger budget and better training, equipment and facilities.

It called for revamping the ways the NTSB investigates plane crashes as aircraft designs become increasingly more complicated.

Overall, the report said the NTSB has been doing the best it can with resources it has available. But it warned that changes must be made if the board is to continue to lead future aircraft investigations.

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