the airport weather conditions at the time were such that this contact must have been made at an altitude below the instrument minimum of 700 feet. Because American Airlines failed to request that they be kept advised of significant changes when weather conditions marginal, in accordance with the procedure agreed upon, they were not aware that the weather had dropped helm minimums. It, therefore, appears that weather information was available but through laxity of American Airlines ground personnel it was not utilized.
Although the pilot was placed in a disadvantageous position by the lack of accurate weather information this fact in itself did not relieve him from his responsibility to plan and execute a proper climb-out procedure. In reconstructing the sequence of events the fact that the aircraft was seen to go over the airport with landing gear up and landing lights off indicates that the pilot had decided that he would not be able to land. It appears that he then changed his mind as indicated by the left turn which followed. It was immediately after this turn that he radioed he was unable to maintain contact and was proceeding to his alternate. He apparently started the right turn of the standard "missed-approach" procedure at a point and from a heading which made this procedure inapplicable.
Based on the foregoing facts and considerations the Board finds that:
1. At the time of the accident the air carrier was operating under proper certification. The maintenance of the aircraft had been satisfactory.
2. Examination of the truck go revealed no indication of failure of any part of the aircraft prior to impact.
3. Navigational facilities and equipment, both on the ground and in the aircraft, were operating normally.
4. Routine position reports were made between El Paso and Burbank and the operation was normal in all respects until the flight reached the Burbank Range Station on its initial approach.
5.Weather conditions at the Burbank Airport were below the established minimum for an instrument approach at the time the flight passed over the field.
PROBABLE CAUSE
The possibility of an accident became a potentiality when the company ground personnel failed to obtain and transmit important weather to the pilot. Failure to obtain and transmit this information to the pilot constitutes negligence on the part of the company. This, however, did not relieve the pilot of his responsibility to conduct a safe flight although it did place him in a disadvantageous position. Had no properly execution the "missed-approach" procedure it is unlikely that the accident would have occurred. The Board, therefore, determines that the probable cause of this accident was "the pilot's attempt to use the standard 'missed-approach' procedure after having followed another course up to a point there it was impossible to apply this procedure safely."
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