Page:Aviation Accident Report, Western Air Lines Flight 1.pdf/16



1. The accident occurred 3 miles southeast of Fairfield, Utah at about 1:22 a.m. on December 15, 1942, and resulted in fatal injuries to 13 passengers and 4 crew members and serious injuries to 2 passengers.

2. Western #1 originated at Salt Lake City, Utah with Burbank, California as its final destination. It departed from Salt Lake City Airport at 1:05 a.m. having been cleared to Burbank, in accordance with company procedure.

3. At the time of the accident Western 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.

4. Captain Loeffler and First Officer Lee were physically qualified and held proper certificates to perform their duties on the subject flight. Copilot-Trainee Soule was properly qualified and authorized to function in such capacity.

5. The aircraft, a Douglas DC3A, NC 16060, was currently certificated as airworthy at the time of the accident.

6. The evidence indicated that the weather conditions in the area at the time were satisfactory for the flight and were not a contributing factor to the accident.

7. The airplane apparently had been properly maintained and there were no indications that it was not in an airworthy condition immediately prior to the accident.

8. There was no indication of mechanical failure of the engines or propellers.

9. The operation of Western #1 was normal until about 1:22 a.m.

10. Normal flight was apparently interrupted at an altitude of approximately 10,200 feet by a failure of the aircraft's structure.

11. A subsequent study indicated that the left, or possibly both wing tips, and the horizontal tail surfaces had failed during a pull-up as a result of air load conditions which were sufficiently severe to impose stresses in excess of those for which these parts of the structure were designed.

12. The first officer and the copilot-trainee were at the controls at the time the airplane struck the ground while the captain had been in the companion-way, either seated in the jump seat or standing.