National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, D.C. 20594

The Director General of Civil Aviation of the Dominican Republic has requested that the National Transportation Safety Board make the following information available to the news media. This information was released today by the Government of the Dominican Republic in connection with the investigation of the February 6, 1996, Birgen Air Boeing 757 accident near Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

The accident investigation is being conducted by the Dominican Republic officials in accordance withthe provisions of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Under those provisions, the U.S. team, led by Safety Board investigators, is participating fully in the investigation. The U.S. team includes advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company. The U.S. team participated fully in the development of the factual material contained in the attached press release.

Media inquiries about this investigation should continue to be directed to the Dominican Republic civil aviation authorities.

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were transported to the laboratories of the National Transportation Safety Board during the evening of February 28, 1996. An initial review of the recorders by the Safety Board and Dominican Republic civil aviation officials was conducted in the early morning hours of February 29, 1996. The read outs are continuing.

Both the CVR and FDR are providing quality data. There were discussions about airspeed indications early during the takeoff ground run and again after takeoff. While climbing through 7,300 feet, the sound of the stall warning stickshaker was heard. The airplane stopped climbing and started descending. The stickshaker sound continued for about 84 seconds until the end of the data. At the time the stickshaker activated, the recorded airspeed was about 335 knots. Data recorded from the ground based radar and other FDR data indicated a much lower airspeed.

Data are consistent with properly functioning flight controls, engines, and thrust reversers. Also, there is no indication of any unusual weather event or external forces acting on the aircraft.

The investigation is continuing with further study of the data and the possible recovery of additional components.

Emmanuel T. Souffront
President of the Investigation Board of Aircraft Accidents
DGAC, Dominican Republic

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Peter B. Ladkin, 1999-02-08
	Last modification on 1999-06-15 by Michael Blume