Page:CAB Accident Report, Pennsylvania-Central Airlines Flight 143.pdf/4

 Investigation Division; James H. Douglas, Assistant to the Chief, Investigation Division; Ralph A. Reed and E. N. Townsend, Air Safety Investigators.

All of the evidence available to the Board at the time was presented at the hearing. Eighteen witnesses testified and 34 exhibits were introduced. While the Examiners and the representatives of the Safety Bureau were the only ones designated to ask questions directly of the witnesses, the Presiding Examiner, acting under instruction of the Board, announced at the opening of the hearing that any person who had any evidence, questions, or suggestions to present for consideration in the proceeding might submit them in writing to the Examiners. A number of written questions were so submitted during the hearing. Every question submitted was asked unless the subject matter of the question had previously been covered by the testimony.

After the close of the hearing, depositions were taken from the West Virginia State Police officers who had assisted in guarding the wreckage and were made a part of the record of the investigation.

Upon the basis of all the evidence accumulated in the investigation and at the hearing, the Board now makes its report in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.