as amended, which authorized it to engage in air carrier transportation with respect to persons, property, and mail on various routes, including Route No. 1 between the co-terminal points New York, New York, and Newark, New Jersey, and the terminal point Oakland, California.
On the flight in question, the crew consisted of Captain Douglas Wilson, First Officer Stuart W. Butterfield, and Stewardess Josephine Dargis.
Captain Wilson, age 35, who had a total of approximately 8300 hours of flight time, held an airline transport certificate and had been employed by United since May 1933. Prior to the accident he had logged about 4000 hours in Douglas aircraft. His last physical examination, required by the Civil Air Regulations, taken March 27, 1942, showed him to be in satisfactory physical condition. Company records indicate that he was a well-qualified and proficient pilot. On his last flight check prior to the accident, also given on March 27, 1942, he received a satisfactory grade.
First Officer Stuart W. Butterfield, age 32, had a total flying time of approximately 1656 hours. He was employed by United on October 21, 1940. At the time of the accident he held a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating and had logged approximately 1165 hours as co-pilot in DC-2 and DC-3 airplanes. His last physical examination, required by the Civil Air Regulations, taken on March 25, 1942, showed him to be in satisfactory condition.
Aircraft NC 16064, a Douglas, Model DC-3-e, powered with two Pratt & Whitney Wasp S1630 engines, was manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., of Santa Monica, California, in December 1936, and purchased by United on January 11, 1937. At the time of the accident it had been flown a total of approximately 12,695 hours, with replacement of engines and parts from
