service as an airline transport pilot with the Maddux Air Lines, Los Angeles, California. He had served as a captain with United and its predecessor companies since January 17, 1930. Certain Fey operated in and out of Salt Lake City during the entire period of his service with United and its predecessor companies, having flown from Portland, Oregon, to Salt Lake City until March, 1938, and from Oakland, California, to Salt Lake City from March 1, 1938 until the date of the accident.
Captain Fey had logged during his flying experience approximately 234 hours of instrument flight time. He had received a routine flight check under simulated instrument conditions on November 2, 1940, and the check pilot reported that the instrument ability shown on that flight was "standard", the highest rating given under company practice. Two pilots, who had ridden as first officers with Captain Fey, testified that they considered him to be a capable instrument pilot.
Captain Fey's last physical examination required. by the Civil Air Regulations * was taken on May 24, 1940, and showed him to be in a satisfactory physical condition. In addition, in accordance with the established procedures of United, he had been subjected to thorough physical examination by a company physician on February 27, 1940, and that examination showed him to be in good physical condition.
First Officer Sandegren, who at the time of the accident held airline transport pilot certificate No. 37828 had acquired 3,341 hours of flight time of which 2,500 hours had been secured in Douglas DC-3 type airplanes. He received his flight training in the United States Army Air Corps and was
