- 15 -
Findings
1. The collision which occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. on October 23, 1942, between an Army B-34 bomber and American's Trip 28 resulted in fatal injuries to the nine passengers and the three crew members of the Airliner. The Airliner was completely destroyed. The Bomber received minor damage to the right propeller, engine nacelle, and de-icer boot. Its occupants were uninjured.
2. At the time of the accident, American held a certificate of public convenience and necessity and an air carrier operating certificate authorizing it to conduct the flight. Both certificates were currently effective.
3. Captain Pedley and First Officer Reppert, of the Airliner, were physically qualified and held proper certificates of competency to perform their duties on the subject flight.
Lieutenant Wilson, the pilot, and Sergeant Teicht, the copilot, of the Bomber, were assigned by the Army to conduct this flight.
4. The Airliner, NC 16017, was currently certificated as airworthy at the time of the accident.
5. American's Trip 28 originated at Burbank, California, with New York, New York, as its final destination. It departed from Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, at 4:36 p.m., having been cleared in accordance with company procedures to Phoenix, Arizona.
The Army B-34 bomber had been dispatched from Long Beach, California to Palm Springs, California, on a contact flight plan.
6. The operation of American's Trip 28 was normal until it was struck by the Army B-34.
7. American's trip 28 reported by radio to Burbank at 5:02 p.m. as over Riverside, California, at 9,000 feet. This was the last radio contact with Trip 28 until 5:15 p.m. when it attempted to male contact with
