Page:CAB Accident Report, 1963 Purdue Aeronautics Corporation crash.pdf/5

 eight minutes after the accident, another special observation was taken which indicated:

This reported weather was essentially as forecast by the U. S. Weather Bureau and given to the pilot by the Flight Service Station personnel before his departure. According to the transcript of the ARTCC communication recordings, the 1036 Morgantown weather was correctly passed to the pilot with the additional comment that "ceiling is higher to the north."

A review of the then current instrument approach procedure charts revealed that straight-in approaches from the VOR to runway 36 were not authorized. ADF approaches made from the non-directional radio beacon north of the airport could be made straight-in to runway 18, or circling to any runway. However, the ADF approach minima were the same for straight-in or circling approaches.

The air traffic control procedures utilized by the ARTCC controller were compared with those outlined in the FAA's then current Air Traffic Control Procedures manual, ATP7110.1A. Paragraph 265.4 of that manual states:

A review of the transcript of the radio communication between ARTCC and the crew indicates that this procedure was not followed. The controller testified that when he received the request for the VOR approach from the crew he checked his sector binder, saw a U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS) approach plate with a southeast procedure turn, and read the minimums of 600 feet and one mile. He believed this was the VOR approach plate. The controller identified the VOR/DME plate as the one which he had used to determine the minimums. The controller further testified that after the accident a card was prepared for each sector position at the ARTCC which depicts the minimums for each instrument approach procedure in the sector.

During flight checks of the navigational facilities at Morgantown it was found that the terrain clearance between the VOR and the airport did not conform to the criteria established by the United States Manual of Criteria for Standard Instrument Approach Procedures. As a result of this finding the minimum altitude between the