Page:CAB Accident Report, TWA Flight 3 (January 1942).pdf/20

 Although, as previously mentioned, certain beacons on the route were inoperative due to the emergency conditions resulting from the war, one of the five beacons between Las Vegas and Silver Lake was lighted on the night of the accident. Beacon 24, also referred to as the Arden Beacon, which is located along the route about 20 miles from the Las Vegas airport, was operating. As may be seen from the map opposite page 6, this beacon is about 2½ miles to the right of the center line of the Las Vegas radio range leg. Flights southwest bound out of Las Vegas should pass to the left of the beacon, but the flight involved in the accident apparently flew past on the right. In this connection it may be noted that Captain Williams' last preceding flight from Las Vegas to Burbank was made on the night of December 21, 1941, at which time Beacon 24, as well as the other beacons in the area, was unlighted. It may be that he erroneously assumed that the beacon was located directly on course and therefore assumed that he was approximately on course as he flew to the right of it. In addition to this lighted beacon, however, the lights of the town of Arden and of automobiles on U. S. Highway No. 91, and farther on, the lights of the town of Goodsprings, afforded reliable reference points. Moreover, under contact conditions such as existed on the night of the accident, if the cockpit lights are kept dimmed, it is possible to see the outline of the mountains especially when the peaks are snow-covered as they were on January 16.

Furthermore, it appears from the radio range monitor reports that the available radio range facilities were operating properly at the time of the accident. Had the captain and first officer been listening to the Las Vegas radio range, a moderate "A" signal would have been heard, which would have definitely indicated that the airplane was off course. Despite the suggestion hereinbefore mentioned that flights remain within the limits