- 2 -
INVESTIGATION
The Flight
Flight 320 of February 3, 195, was scheduled to depart Chicago Midway Airport at 2100[1]. It was loaded, dispatched, and operated to the New York area routinely in accordance with the applicable company and Civil Air Regulations. An instrument flight plan was filed with the company and clearance was approved by Air Route Traffic Control. The aircraft was off the ground at 2154 and estimated one hour and forty-two minutes en route to New York. Communications with the company and Air Route Traffic Control were routine.
At 2327:55, approximately one and one-half hours after departure, Flight 320 made its first transmission to La Guardia approach control. After contact was established, the flight reported it was at 9,000 feet approaching Somerset (Pennsylvania) intersection.
At 2328:43, Flight 320 reported over the Somerset intersection. At 2333:39, Flight 320 reported northeast bound on Amber 7 Airway and was identified by La Guardia radar. At 2334:03, Flight 320 was issued the 2331 La Guardia weather as follows: "measured four hundred overcast; a mile and a quarter visibility; light rain and fog; the visibility south and to the northwest reported at two miles; wind is southwest at three, altimeter is dropping; it is now two nine seven eight." The latest La Guardia weather was given to Flight 320 on two other occasions, at 2328:10 and at 2344:39.
During the period 2339:01 to 2349:35, Flight 320 was given heading and altitude changes to increase its separation from a preceding DC-3, and was vectored to the course of the ILS while descending from 8,000 to 1,500 feet. The following message was transmitted to Flight 320 at 2344:39, "Roger, now the latest La Guardia weather, out at thirty-eight past the hour, the time is forty-four past the hour; it's measured four hundred overcast; two miles visibility, light rain and fog; altimeter two-nine-nine-seven. Correction, the altimeter is two-nine-seven-seven, two-nine-seven-seven, La Guardia altimeter." At 2345:43, Flight 320 was advised that another aircraft had previously missed its approach.
At 2352:23, Flight 320 reported to approach control that it had passed New Rochelle and approach control requested the flight to contact the La Guardia tower on 118.7 mcs for a straight-in approach to runway 22[2]. At 2353:00, the flight reported to La Guardia tower as having passed New Rochelle. At 2354:37, Flight 320
- ↑ All times herein are eastern standard based on the 24-hour clock, shown in hours, minutes, and seconds.
- ↑ Initial approach procedure prescribed an altitude of 1,500 feet asl 10 miles northeast of New Rochelle inbound for runway 22, to pass New Rochelle at minimum of 1,000 feet afl, descend to a minimum of 800 afl over the La Guardia range station, and continue descent to 400 feet afl altitude. If contact is established at this point, landing may be effected. (Day and night company minimums for runway 22 are 400 feet and one mile.)
(asl - above sea level; afl - above field level)
