Journal of Accident Investigation

MATTHEW R. FOX, CARL R. SCHULTHEISZ, JAMES R. REEDER, AND BRIAN J. JENSEN
THE AUTHORS
MATTHEW R. FOX, Ph.D., is a Materials Engineer in the Materials Laboratory at the NTSB. His expertise includes fracture
mechanics, composites, high-temperature materials, and finite-element modeling. Dr. Fox led the materials examination of
the vertical stabilizer and rudder for the American Airlines flight 87 investigation. He also led materials examinations for the
Explorer Pipeline Company pipeline failure in Greenville, Texas, and several major rail accidents, including Carbondale, Kansas,
and Eunice, Louisiana.
CARL R. SCHULTHEISZ, Ph.D., is a Materials Research Engineer in the Materials Laboratory at the NTSB. Using expertise in
solid mechanics, fracture, polymers, and polymer-matrix composites, he participated in the fractographic investigation and analysis
of the Airbus A-300 composite vertical fin for the American Airlines flight 87 investigation. Dr. Schultheisz has also served
as a materials research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Polymers Division, and has studied the
environmental durability of polymer matrix composites for automotive applications.
JAMES R. REEDER, Ph.D., has worked at NASA Langley Research Center since 1987, as part of what is now called the Mechanics
of Structures and Materials Branch. His research areas have included delamination mechanics, failure of textile composites,
viscoelastic failure response of high temperature composites, failure morphologies in composites, and impact failure of ceramic
matrix composites. He has contributed to several failure investigations including the NASA X33 Hydrogen Tank Failure.
BRIAN J. JENSEN, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist at the NASA Langley Research Center. He has pursued the study of chemistry
at Virginia Commonwealth University, The College of William and Mary, and Randolph Macon College. Dr. Jensen’s research
interests include high performance polymers, adhesives, and composites and he has published over 1 0 articles and holds 20
patents.
22 NTSB JOURNAL OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, SPRING 2006; VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1