Page:CAB Accident Report, Mid-Air Collision on 30 September 1959.pdf/9



Investigation and Depositions

The Civil Aeronautics Board was notified of this accident shortly after occurrence. An investigation was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. Depositions were taken at the North Philadelphia Airport on November 13, 1959.

The Aircraft

The Aeronca was owned by the Pennsylvania wing of the Civil Air Patrol. The aircraft bore serial number 7BCM-249 and was known as an Air Force L-16A. It had a total of 1,432:05 flight hours as of September 30, 1959. The last periodic or 100-hour inspection was performed on June 6, 1959, at which time the total flight hours were recorded as 1,288:50. It was equipped with a Continental model C-85-PJ engine which bore serial number 30916-9-8. Records indicated that the total time on the engine as of September 30, 1959, was 752:55 hours.

The Cessna, model 140, was purchased by Mr. Hochrein on June 20, 1959, and bore manufacturer's serial number 13824. The aircraft had been relicensed July 1, 1959. Total aircraft time was recorded as 1,774 flight hours. It was equipped with a Continental, model C85-12, 85-h.p. engine which bore serial member 28088-7-12. Logbook entries indicated that the total time on the engine since a major overhaul was 734 hours.

Mr. Robert T. Wilson, age 38, pilot of the Aeronca L-16A, possessed a currently valid private pilot certificate, No. 382514, with airplane single-engine land rating. He had accumulated a total of 600 flight hours, had 4 hours flight time in the model involved in this accident, and approximately 25 flying hours in the last 90 days preceding the accident. He had passed a third-class medical examination on June 18, 1959.

Mr. Richard G. Hochrein, age 30, pilot of the Cessna 140, possessed a currently valid private pilot certificate, No. 1409389, with airplane single-engine land rating. He had accumulated a total of 122 flight hours, 45:10 flight hours in the model involved in this accident, and approximately 40:10 flying hours in the last 90 days preceding the accident. He had passed a third-class medical examination on May 21, 1959.