Aviation Accident Report: Western Air Lines Flight 636/Supplemental Data

by the Civil Aeronautics Board

S U P P L E M E N T A L⁠D A T A

 

Investigation and Hearing

 

First notification of this accident to the Civil Aeronautics Board was received by Investigator S. R. Mitchell at his home in Oakland, California, at about 2315 on April 20, 1953. An investigation was immediately initiated in accordance with the provisions of Section 702 (a) (2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended. A public hearing was ordered by the Board and was held at the Alameda Hotel, Alameda, California, on May 21 and 22, 1953.

 

Air Carrier

 

Western Air Lines, Inc., is a scheduled air carrier incorporated in the state of Delaware with its principal business office at Los Angeles, California. It operates under a currently effective certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board and an air carrier operating certificate issued by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. These certificates authorize the company to transport by air persons and property over numerous routes within the continental limits of the United States and certain points in the Dominion of Canada, including that between Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland, California.

 

Flight Personnel

 

Captain Robert E. Clark, age 36, held a currently effective airline transport certificate with an appropriate rating for the subject aircraft. Ee had been continuously employed by Western Air Lines, Inc., since April 1940. His total flying time was 11,500 hours, of which 79 had been in Douglas DC-6B aircraft.

First Officer Robert C. Jacobson, age 32, held a currently effective airline transport certificate with appropriate rating for the subject aircraft. He had been employed by the company as a pilot since September 1946. His total flying time was 3,100 hours, of which about 38 had been as copilot on Douglas DC-6B aircraft.

The other crew members consisted of Flight Engineer Robert R. League, age 36, and Stewardesses Barbara Brew and Beverlee Nelson.

 

The Aircraft

 

N 91303 was a Douglas DC-6B, manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1952. Its total operational time was 826.04 hours. The engines were Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 equipped with Hamilton Standard propellers.