Page:NTSB Southern Airways Flight 932 report.pdf/23



The original negotiations between Marshall University and Southern Airways resulted in initial rejection by Southern Airways because of the takeoff weight limitations of their aircraft. The subsequent negotiations resulted in a reduction in the weight of passengers and baggage to be carried from approximately 19,500 pounds to 17,500 pounds, and the charter flight was scheduled. The flight was then offered for bid to the pilots and assigned on the basis of seniority, the same as regularly scheduled flights.

The flight was dispatched initially from Atlanta for the entire charter sequence to Baton Rouge. At Kinston, the captain contacted the dispatcher in Atlanta and an update was accomplished by telephone. Both releases anticipated a landing on a wet runway at Huntington, and the 15 percent additional runway requirement was included in the landing distance computations.

The same aircraft, dispatchers, flight planning services, and supervising personnel were used in the charter operation as in the regularly scheduled service. In addition, a charter coordinator was assigned to assist the flightcrew in administrative matters generally involving ground operations. The coordinator's duties involved supervising and expediting ground operations, arranging for fueling, completing weight and balance forms, etc. In the performance of these duties, he normally communicated directly with the captain shortly before landing. Although he was permitted to enter the cock under these circumstances, he was not authorized to occupy the jumpseat. In this instance, the charter coordinator was in the cockpit during the instrument approach, and discussed the fueling at Huntington. He also commented, "Bet'll be a missed-approach" approximately 16 seconds before impact.