July 17, 2007


Mark V. Rosenker
Chairman, NTSB
490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C. 20594
Telephone (202) 314-6000

Chairman Rosenker,

My name is James Bergquist, former USAF and FAA air traffic
controller, and former head of our union, NATCA, in San Diego.

I have posted several articles on many aviation bulletin boards about
the crash of Comair flight 5191 on August 27, 2006. I have also
contacted many family members and their attorneys, the Delta safety
department, Congressman Ben Chandler's office, and the Lexington
press about my allegations about the accident.

I read a press release on the NTSB website at...

http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/2006/060925.htm

Under the paragraph titled air traffic control, a lot of false
information is listed...

Air Traffic Control

At the time of the accident, there was one air traffic controller in
the tower. After handling several aircraft at the beginning of his
shift, there were several hours without aircraft movements. In the 20
minutes leading up to the accident, there were three departures,
including Comair 5191, from LEX under his control. The ATC group has
interviewed several Lexington control tower personnel and FAA air
traffic personnel. The controller on duty at the time of the accident
relayed the following information to investigators: he cleared the
accident flight crew to take off (from runway 22) and to fly runway
heading (220 degrees); after providing takeoff clearance for flight
5191, he turned away from the window to perform an administrative
task (traffic count); he did not witness the accident, but heard the
crash, turned around and saw fire, and immediately activated the
emergency response. As in all investigations, the group will review
the controller's workload and duty schedule and the tower staffing
level.


When I downloaded the FAA ATC tapes, I discovered that the controller
wasn't doing traffic count after he cleared the stricken aircraft for
takeoff but immediately diverted his attention to a previous
departure and was performing approach control duties while Comair was
rolling down the wrong runway. Traffic count could not have been a
factor in this accident.


Additionally, there is another item that the NTSB overlooked. You are
telling us that the controller "immediately activated the emergency
response". But the FAA tapes show something completely different. The
FAA tapes show that there was well over a two minute delay after the
crash before the controller pulled the crash phone. That is a huge
error for the NTSB to make even in the preliminary stages of an
accident investigation.


I cannot understand how the NTSB would think that they can hoodwink
the public with this lie on one hand and let the FAA provide the
public with the tapes that clearly show that it is all a lie on the
other.


Although I am an aviation professional and not a layman, even the
layman can download those tapes and figure out the truth about what
happened that morning.


Here is a link to the articles I posted on the Delta Airlines section
of the U S Aviation Bulletin Board...


http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?
showtopic=33299&hl=chickenlittle92071


and an open letter to Congressman Ben Chandler's office...


http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?
showtopic=33302&hl=chickenlittle92071


I would like to talk with you further about the NTSB's investigation
of this accident. Please respond via email and give me a phone number
to contact you.


Best Regards,


James Bergquist

Air Safety Activist

chickenlittle92071@...