The NTSB had worked with Emery in advance to identify witnesses who could answer questions regarding the carrier's maintenance practices and record-keeping. Nancy Colvert, a spokeswoman for Emery, said the company provided the witnesses the NTSB asked for. "Our witnesses were well prepared to discuss the issues raised," she said.

Emery witnesses testified for more than nine hours. Goglia said he will reconvene the hearing in the future after NTSB identifies witnesses who can answer the board's questions.

Emery pilots had complained about the carrier's lax maintenance procedures prior to the crash.

The NTSB convened the hearing after intense pressure from family members of the three crewmen who died in the fiery crash of their DC-8-71 freighter after it plowed into an auto auction yard shortly after taking off on Feb. 16, 2000 from Sacramento, Calif., on a flight to Emery's hub in Dayton, Ohio.

Seven witnesses testified at the hearing. They represented the Douglas Products Division of Boeing Airplanes Group, Tennessee Technical Services and Emery.

Emery's spokesperson at the hearing was Richard Hagquist, director of flight operations. The other Emery witnesses were Thomas Wood, former director of quality assurance; Bruce Robbins, former director of engineering; and Dave Ungemach, former director of line maintenance. Wood, Robbins and Ungemach are no longer with Emery, which voluntarily grounded its planes after the Federal Aviation Administration warned that it was about to revoke the airline's flight certificate.

Soon after the grounding, Emery's parent, CNF Inc., closed down the airline. Emery is still in the air-cargo business, but it now uses aircraft provided by contract carriers.