Page:CAB Accident Report, Braniff Airways Flight 542.pdf/16

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systems, performance, and flight planning His average grade for the course was 96. In addition, an L—188 refresher course and cockpit check was completed by Captain Stone on May 17, 1959, and involved a total of 12 hours attendance.

Captain Stone‘s L—188 flight training commenced May 18, 1959, and was completed May 27, 1959. This training covered general preflight duties; air work, on route and emergency procedures, including Simulated engine failure and engine fire at altitude; simulated emergency procedures, day and night takeoffs and landings; and instrument procedures. ThlS type rating check was given by an FAA deSignated ATE examiner after 8 hours and 45 minutes of flight training. His flight proficiency was above average on this check. Captain Stone then flew for 12 hours and 34 minutes with company check pilots prior to being aSSigned to regular line operations. His total Electra time was 68 hours and 39 minutes.

First Officer Dan Hollowell completed Electra ground school training on July 3; 1959 He received an avarage grade of 95 for the 120-hour course. Flight training commenced July 10, 1959, and was completed July 31, 1959. First Officer Hollowell received a total of 4.30 hours of flight time in the Electra, and 8-45 hours of observation time. A review of the records indicated that he was current in all re— quirements. His total Electra time was 95 hours and 30 minutes.

Second Officer Roland Longhill completed the 120-hour Electra ground school course on March 20, 1959. His final examination grade was 93. He was qualified for duty as a flight engineer on Electra equipment on August 12, 1959, after com- pleting 10-40 hours of instruction. His total Electra time was 83 hours and three nnnutes.

Crash Iniury Research

Traumatic inJuries to occupants, some of whom had fallen free of the aircraft, were severe and extenSive and with much mutilation.

Examination of tissue for carbon monox1de level was made from nine bodies, one of which was that of First Officer Hollowell It and seven others showed carbozy» hemoglobin saturation of the blood and tissue at less than ten percent. Medical opinion is that this is not an incapaCitating quantity. One of the nine showed a 13 percent concentration, indicating pOSSlble inhalation of Smoke laden air prior to death.

Analysis

The investigation of this aCCident has produced such a voluminous quantity of data that this report will be confined to the discussion and analySis of only those data concidered to be apropos to the consideration of probable cause Several inc1dents and acc1dents involVing Electras have occurred during the course of this investigation, all of which have also been investigated. None of these is cone Sidered to have any association with this accident except the acCident to a Sister aircraft at Cannelton, Indiana, on.March 17, 1960. The investigational results of that acc1dent and their relevance to the solution of this case are discussed below.

Much of the information appearing under investigation is of a negative nature insofar as the probable cause of this accident is concerned. Such matters as atmes~ pheric turbulence cannot be logically linked to this acc1dent. The aircraft was