BY MIKE GALLAGHER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Federal investigators will be checking to see whether Comair Flight 3272's collision avoidance system was operational when a big jet passed over it moments before the turboprop plummeted to the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

A check of the system is routine in crash investigations, especially after reports that the Comair plane may have been caught up in wake turbulence after a larger jet passed about 1,500 feet overhead, according to several retired airline pilots interviewed by The Enquirer Friday.

FAA and NTSB officials said there is no indication or reports that the two aircraft may have collided.

''Checking out a collision avoidance system to make sure it was working properly is strictly routine,'' said Frank Sinclair, a retired Northwest Airlines pilot from Detroit.

But the wake turbulence caused by the big jet and its effects on the turboprop would ''most certainly be examined,'' said Mr. Sinclair.

Michael Gearhart, vice president of market for support for Embraer Aircraft Corp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., which built the Embreaer 120 that crashed, confirmed investigators were looking at wake turbulence as a ''possible contributing factor'' to the crash.'' FAA and NTSB officials declined comment.

Comair Flight 3272 ''was equipped with a collision avoidance system,'' said Comair spokeswoman Meghan Glynn.

FAA and NTSB officials continue to investigate ice buildup on the downed plane as another possible factor in the crash.

PROFILES OF VICTIMS
SEVEN DAYS OF CRASH COVERAGE

Victims

First Officer
Kenneth Reece
Fort Wright, Ky.

Flight Attendant
Darinda Ogden Nilsen
Lexington, Ky.

PASSENGERS
Adams, Dexter
Cincinnati

Barrow, Gregory
Detroit

Bransford, Roger
Sandy Springs, Ga.

Brice, Arthur
Brookhaven, Miss.

Brownlee, Christine
Helena, Mont.

Brownlee, Scott
Helena, Mont.

Davis, Geoffrey
Detroit.

DeMarco, Maureen
Englewood, Colo.

Douchard, Greg
Wesson, Miss.

Felteau, Leo
Atlanta

Herman, Mark
Novi, Mich.

Jones, Betty Jean
Detroit

Jones, Charles
McComb, Miss.

McClain, Steven
Waterford, Mich.

Muskovitz, Teri
West Bloomfield, Mich.

Passariello, Kim
Lake Havasu, Ariz.

Raymond, Roy
Twin Falls, Id.

Raymond, Vernamarie
Twin Falls, Id.

Rosiak, Jennifer
Fairbanks, Alaska

Rosiak, Nicholas
Fairbanks, Alaska

Sharangpani, Arati
Holland, Mich.

Stearn, Richard
Whitmore Lake, Mich.

Takenami, Keita
Lexington, Ky.

Thomas, Douglas
Detroit.

Wansedel, Charles
Mount Clemens, Mich.

Zagar, Darlene
Danville, Ky.