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SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE
Air Carrier
Pan American-Grace Airways, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Panagra), a Delaware corporation, was operating the subject flight, Trip No. 9 of January 22, 1943, as an air carrier under a certificate of public convenience and necessity and an air carrier operating certificate. These certificates authorized Panagra to engage in air transportation with respect to persons, property and mail, between Balboa, Canal Zone, and various points within South America, including Santiago, Chile, Arequipa and Lima, Peru.
The Aircraft
The aircraft involved, a Douglas DC3A, NC33645, certificated to carry 21 passengers and a crew of 4, had been flown approximately 3179 hours and 26 minutes. It was manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc. of Santa Monica, California, and was purchased by Panagra on April 13, 1941. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt and Whitney S1C3-G engines, each of which had been operated 19 hours and 42 minutes since the last 100-hour check. The aircraft was equipped with Hamilton Standard hydromatic propellers. The authorized maximum take-off weight of the aircraft was 25,200 points but the weight at the time of take-off on the subject flight was 24,001 pounds. A check of Panagra's records indicated that the aircraft radio installation was made in accordance with Section 7A of Panagra's air carrier operating certificate. Panagra's radio records indicated that the overhaul and routine check had been made in accordance with the present schedule, which is based upon overhauling of aircraft radio units at four-month intervals.
Flight Personnel
The flight crew of Trip No. 9 was made up of Captain Gordon W. Gardner, First Officer Robert W. Turbyns, Flight Radio Operator James J. Ewing, and
