be learned of its condition prior to the crash. Examination of the propellers indicated that the blades were set at approximately 30 degree at the time of impact. This blade setting is one which might be expected were the plane in a normal climb. Inspection of the engines revealed that the propellers had stopped suddenly, probably making less than one revolution after impact. There was no evidence disclosed which night indicate any malfunctioning of the engines or their accessories.
Most of the instruments were so damaged that little information could be obtained from them. One altimeter indicated an approximate setting of 30.14 which was in close agreement with the station setting. Evidence indicated that all seat belts were fastened at the time of impact.
Air Navigation Radio Aids
As described earlier in this report Burbank Airport is not served by a leg of the regular airways radio range but operates with a low-powered localizer. Both the control tower and the localizer at the Burbank Airport are operated by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. A check of the localizer as well as the regular range stations at Newhall, Los Angeles and Palmdale indicated that all were operating normally at the time of the accident.
According to export opinion given by CAA Air Carrier personnel the radio facilities and procedures at the Burbank Airport are adequate provided pilots adhere to the standard approach procedure. If, however, deviation is made from standard procedure during marginal weather the proximity of terrain obstructions presents a critical situation. Even with the installation of other types of radio facilities it is believed that operating conditions at this field in marginal weather would not be materially changed due to the geographical location and the character of the surrounding terrain.
Weather Analysis
The regular forecast periods used by the Weather Bureau overlapped during the period near the time of the accident. The terminal forecast for Burbank for the first period 2130 January 9 to 0530 January 10 (PWT) was:
Ceiling 400, overcast, visibility 1 mile, light fog to 0030, followed by coiling 200, overcast, 1/2 mile, moderate fog, clouds stratus top 1800.
For the second period, 0330 to 1130:
Ceiling 500, overcast l 1/4 mile, light fog to 0900, followed by ceiling 700, overcast, visibility one mile, light fog intermittent light drizzle, upper clouds cirrus and altocumulus, lower clouds stratus to 3000.
The forecasts for both the heather Bureau and the Company were somewhat on the conservative side, both indicating conditions slightly worse than those which occurred. They also indicated that minimums allocable for landing would probably not exist at the time of the arrival of American Airlines Flight 6001.
