Page:CAB Accident Report, Beechcraft C-18-S on 1 September 1959.pdf/6



The Civil Aeronautics Board was notified of this accident by the Federal Aviation Agency shortly after occurrence. An investigation was immediately initiated in accordance with Title VII of the Federal Av1ation Act of 1958. A public hearing was ordered by the Board and was held at Anchorage, Alaska, September 17, 1959.

Chefley W. Priest, age 35, of 1805 30th Street, Spenard, Alaska, held a valid commercial pilot's certificate with multiengine land and sea ratings. His medical certificate was Class I, without limitations, and had been renewed in June 1959. Mr. Priest's total piloting time, as stated on his application for his last physical examination in June 1959, was 6,500 hours. Evidence indicates that some of Mr. Priest's piloting had been of a nature requiring instrument flight; however, he did not have an instrument rating.

The aircraft was a Beech, model C-18-S, N 57139. Its registered owner was Donald L. Bailey of the Adwater Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska. The total time on the aircraft was 3,429 hours and the time Since overhaul was 642 hours. Engines were Pratt and Whitney, model R 985—14B. Both had had 642 hours since overhaul and 29 hours since periodic inspection. Propellers were Hamilton standard with 642 hours since overhaul.

Although the flight was being conducted as a charter operation, no Alaskan air taxi operator's certificate, as required by Part 293 of the Board's Economic Regulations, had been issued to or applied for by the operator, Bailey Enterprises, Inc., an Alaskan corporation.