Page:Aviation Accident Investigation - TWA crash on 6 May 1935 - Statement by Secretary Roper.pdf/1



The Bureau of Air Commerce, under my direction, has just completed an investigation of the crash of the Transcontinental and Western Air Incorporated Company plane SKY CHIEF near Atlanta, Missouri, on May 6, 1935, in which the late Senator Cutting of New Mexico and four other persons were killed and eight persons seriously injured.

The inquiry has been conducted with all possible expedition and thoroughness. Within a short time after the accident happened, five Department of Commerce airline inspectors from different parts of the middlewest were on their way to the scene of the crash. Upon arrival, they promptly inaugurated a preliminary investigation. An inquiry was also started immediately by the Accident Board of the Bureau and two members of the Board, Messrs. Denis Mulligan, Chief of the Enforcement Section, and K. E. Schroeder, Chief of the Air Line Inspection Service, went to the scene of the accident and later held public hearings in Kansas City and Macon, Missouri. A total of 907 pages of testimony was taken at these hearings. Charts, maps, logs, photographs and other exhibits germane to the inquiry were also obtained and later brought to Washington where, immediately upon closing of the public hearing, meetings of the entire Accident board were held. Following completion of a report by the Board, the report and all of the testimony and exhibits were examined and reviewed thoroughly by Eugene L. Vidal, Director of the Bureau, and J. Carroll Cone, Assistant Director in Charge of Air Regulation, and a summary of the investigation, including testimony, exhibits and comments, made to me. I have carefully studied the facts in the case as reflected by this material and this report is the result of my conclusions based on that study.

Attached is a complete copy of the summary of the Board's findings and comment on the accident by Director Vidal. The full text of the testimony taken by the Accident Board and all of the exhibits obtained by the members in their investigation are on file in public record form at the Air Commerce Bureau in the Department of Commerce.

I am convinced that the accident was due chiefly to bad weather conditions. The two pilots, Bolton and Greeson, made every possible effort to land their passengers safely, but were unable to do so because of the prevailing fog and darkness. Contributory causes undoubtedly were inaccurate weather forecasts from both the United States weather bureau and the company meteorologist, given the SKY CHIEF crew at Albuquerque about 9 p.m., on May 5; improper clearance by T.W.A. ground personnel of the plane from Albuquerque; improper control of the plane by the same personnel after the departure from Albuquerque;