Page:CAB Accident Report, Pan American Flight 161.pdf/6

 1014.2 millibars, a discrepancy between the two altimeters amounting to only 11 feet in altitude. The Kollsman repeating compasses on the instrument panel were found set at 77° magnetic, or 70° true, the bearing of the line of lights at the landing area.

The aircraft was equipped with an NACA V-G recorder, the purpose of which is to record vertical acceleration in relation to speed. This recorder was recovered from the wreckage and a detailed discussion of the results obtained from a study of the recording is included herewith as Appendix I. In brief, the V-G record, as well as the condition of the bottom of the hull as described above, indicated that: (1) the aircraft contacted the surface of the water at a higher than normal landing speed, and (2) the impact occurred while the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude.

During the salvage operations there were found in various places small particles of wood, oakum, and paint chips. Inasmuch as the presence of this material within the wreckage suggested a possibility of collision with some wooden vessel or object, specimens were referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with samples of wood and paint from the U.S. Navy salvage boats and from the piling and pier at the docksite where the wreckage was finally placed. Examination by that agency revealed that these various articles corresponded to the materials of the salvage boats or the docksite, thus eliminating probability of the plane's having collided with any such object prior to impact with the water. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of collision with any object either in the air or on the surface of the water.

Captain Goyette was an experienced pilot with an accumulated total of about 7040 flying hours. He had served nine years with Pan American and at the time of the accident was rated by the company as Master Pilot. Although