Page:CAB Accident Report, Pan American Flight 203.pdf/3

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SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF EVDIDENCE

Air Carrier

Pan American Airways, Inc., a New York Corporation, was operating at the time of the accident as an air carrier under a currently effective certificate of public convenience and necessity and an air carrier operating certificate theretofore issued to it pursuant to the Act. These certificates authorized it to engage in air transportation with respect to persons, property and mail between various points, including Miami, Florida; Antilla, Cuba; Port au Prince, Haiti; San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Belem, Brazil; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Porto Alegro, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Flight Personnel

On the flight under discussion the crew consisted of Captain Charles A Lorber, First Officer Harvey E Breaux, Flight Mechanic J. E. Donnelley, Radio Operator W. P. Mahoney, and Flight Stewards Joe Catala and A. E. Calligari.

Captain Lorber, aged 45, had accumulated a total of approximately 11,384 hours of flying time and held airline transport pilot certificate No. 4554 with 4-M Land and 5 Land and Water ratings. Since his employment by Pan American in 1928 he had accumulated a total of approximately 1500 hours on Sikorsky S-42 airplanes and had had about 690 hours of night flying. He started piloting over the subject route in 1929 and subsequent to that date had flown on both the Atlantic and Pacific-routes of Pan American. Since Captain Lorber's return to the Eastern Division on January 16, 1941, he had made approximately six night landings at San Juan in S-42 airplanes. His last physical examination as required by the Civil Air Regulations was taken on May 6, 1941, and showed that he was in a satisfactory physical condition. Captain Lorber had from time to time been given flight checks on various aircraft, including S-42's. His last flight check on an S-42 followed his transfer from the Atlantic Division to the Eastern Division. This is in keeping with the policy of Pan American. All pilots are checked when transferred from one division to another. Captain Fatt, chief pilot in the Eastern Division, stated that in checking Captain Lorber on S-42's "he had a tendency to land with his nose down". He further stated that this difficulty was promptly corrected and that Captain Lorber thereafter made several landings which were satisfactory and normal. Company records indicated that Lorber was a well qualified and proficient pilot.

First Officer Harvey E. Breaux, aged 24, had accumulated a total flying time of approximately 583 hours. He had been employed by Pan American for approximately six months prior to the accident. At the time of the accident he held commercial pilot certificate No. 61667 With a rating of second pilot. His last physical examination as required by the Civil Air Regulations was taken on August 4, 1941, and showed him to be in a satisfactory physical condition.

Flight Mechanic J. E. Donnelley had been employed by Pan American for approximately 13 years and had flown as a flight mechanic for approximately 5000 hours. At the time of the accident he held a currently effective aircraft and engine mechanic certificate issued by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. 20494—5