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16 - it appears much poorer to me. The visibility is about one mile. Go ahead. No answer. Salt Lake City ground station called Trip 16. No answer, 14:12 AM LÜnited's radio operator notádi] Heavy snow static Salt Lake. 14:23 AM to 4:26 AM - Salt Lake City to Trip 16: The visi bility southwest is only about 1/2 mile. No answer. Salt Lake City to Trip 18: 1Do you read?i Dispatcher Edson to Trip 16: "Pisi- bility about 2 miles to the north. Can see the Rance Station plainly. Just turned the lights out southwest of the field. Think we have good visibility. Fey, Trip-16: "Lots of static at times. Fire all over things and can't hear the range, Fey refers to whát is known as "St. Elmo's fire", a form of static electricity and not harmful to airplanes.] I dori't know whether we can get in or not. Unless we can pick up the field will have to get out of here, Salt Lake City : OK what altitude are you at now? Fey, Prip 16: "We are still on top at 14,000 feet.' Salt Lake City acknowledged. At the hearing Dis- patcher Edson testified that at 4:26 AM he heard Trip 16 pass over or near the airport.] 14:30 AM - Airways Traffic Control to Salt Lake City: *Trip 16 is cleared to proceed fron Salt Lake City to Elko airport. He is to cruise at 13,000 feet. No essential traffic has been reported. Have Trip 16 keep us advised.! Dispatcher Edson had requested clearance for Trip 16 to return from Salt Lake City to Elko, 14:31 AM - Salt Lake City called Trip 16. No answer. 14:33 AM - Salt Lake City called Trip 16. 4.33 No answer. 14:27 AM - Salt Lake City to Trip 16: Do you read? Edson to Trip 15: Another snow flurry in here now. Visibility one mile or a little less and Trip 11 is estimated over Salt Lake at 4:47 AM at 14,500 feet. If you are unable to make your approach we want you to return to Elko, We will have Trip 11 go to Elko and adjust the cargo.! Fey, Trip. 16: "OK, we are on the north leg [of the Salt Lake City radio range at 9,000 feet and there are breaks in the clouds out here. It is quite a bit thinner, Think we can come down out here and follow the lake in if you want us to do it that way.' Edson: TOK - If you want to do it that way. Will keep you advised. I cannot see Range station, I can faintly see the north boundary lights.' Fey ac- knowledged, [A recording of this redio conversation was being made on an automatic recording machine which was in operation in the United dispatch office in Oakland, California. The record made reveals that the operator at Salt Lake City did not copy the above conversation verbatin, The recording shows that Edson's acknowledgment was: That is OK to continue your approach, Howard. I will keep you advised.]
