Page:CAB Accident Report, Piedmont Airlines Flight 349.pdf/2

 The aircraft departed wWshington at 1949. It was about 20 minutes behind schedule, the result of traffic, ground, and ramp delays. The flight was according to an instrument flight plan and clearance which specified a routing over airway V-140 and a cruising altitude of 4,OOO feet.2/ At departure the gross takeoff Weight of DC-3, N 55V, was 25,346 pounds, which was also the maximum allowable weight. The load was properly distributed.

The flight made a Georgetown departure and then proceeded to the Springfield, Virginia, radio beacon where it entered V-140 airway. It followed the airway from Springfield to the Casanova omni range station. The centerline of the airway over this segment is defined as the 260-degree radial of the Casanova omni. At 2012 Flight 349 reported that it was over Casanova at 2010. It also reported it was at 4,000 feet and estimating the Rochelle intersection at 2024, with Charlottesville next.

At Casanova, V-l4O airway turns left and from Casanova to the Rochelle intersection the airway is defined as the 239-degree radial of Casanova omni; the distance is 31 miles. The Rochelle intersection is the 239-degree radial of the Casanova omni and the 335-degree radial of the Gordonsville omni.

About 2018 Flight 349 made a routine inrange report to the Piedmont ground radio station located at the Charlottesville Airport. The flight informed the company that it was in range, IFR (instrument flight rules), and would have 250 gallons of fuel on board when it departed Charlottesville for Lynchburg. The radio operator furnished the flight the latest altimeter setting, 30.47, and the current surface wind which was calm. Normally, the operator would also furnish the latest ceiling and visibility observation. This, according to his testimony, he failed to do. The current observation at this time was Ceiling, measured 1,500 feet broken, 4,000 feet overcast; visibility 10 miles.

Immediately after 2025 the flight reported to the Washington Air Traffic Control Center that it was over the Rochelle intersection at 2025 at 4,000 feet and estimating the Charlottesv111e Airport at 2030. Washington Center acknowledged and cleared Flight 349 for an instrument approach. About one minute later the flight informed the center as follows, "You can put us out of four thousand." This was the last transmission from the aircraft.

Investigation revealed the weather observations for Charlottesville were, at 1900, 1,700 feet scattered, ceiling 4,000 feet, overcast, visibility 10 miles; at 1930, ceiling 1,700 feet broken, 4,000 overcast, at 2000, ceiling measured 1,500 feet broken, 4,000 feet overcast, visibility