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before beginning his take-off, to ascertain that his take-off area was clear. He stated that he looked out over the field, in an attempt to determine the position of Braniff Flight 2, both when he came out of the airport administration building, and when he entered the cockpit of the TWA airplane. At neither time did he see the Braniff aircraft. The fact that he had observed Braniff Flight 2 taxi away from the ramp previously and could not see that airplane on the field was certainly indicative to Captain Boqua that Braniff Flight 2 had already taken off. One witness, a service man employed by the airport, stated that he had seen the Braniff airplane parked on the field while he was servicing the TWA plane. Several other witnesses, however, testified that they had looked out over the field at this time and had failed to see the Braniff airplane. First Officer Richwine, who looked out at the field just before Captain Boqua started to taxi away from the loading gate, did not see the Braniff airplane at this time and reported to Captain Boqua that all was clear.
When Captain Boqua had taxied to the west end of the loading ramp and was about to take off he and First Officer Richwine both looked over the field very carefully to determine their position relative to the temporary boundary lights on the west side. Power was applied and the take-off was begun, but it was not until after the airplane had traveled a distance sufficient for the captain to raise the tail that they could see the other airplane, even though they had their landing lights on.
