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these rules had been relaxed in the interest of safety during the construction program. Under the circumstances Captain Boqua displayed good judgment in beginning his take-off from the loading ramp so as to be able to use all available take-off area.
12. The control tower was not in operation at the airport at the time of the accident.
13. Neither Braniff Flight 2 nor TWA Flight 6 was properly cleared by its respective ground personnel. Braniff ground personnel did not remain on the ramp to signal the Braniff airplane for take-off, as required in the Braniff Operations Manual. There was in use at the time an interphone system connecting the airport offices of Braniff and TWA. Neither the Braniff nor the TWA radio operator made proper use of this interphone and notified the other of the position of their respective flights.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
On the basis of the foregoing findings and all of the evidence available to the Board at this time, the Board finds that the probable cause of the accident was the action of the captain of Braniff Flight 2 in remaining in the take-off area of the airport for an abnormal length of time without requesting the Braniff ground station to inform TWA that he had not yet taken off.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
1. Failure of Braniff ground personnel to observe the movements of Braniff Flight 2 after leaving the ramp and inform TWA personnel that Flight 2 had not taken off.
