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Probable Cause
On the basis of the foregoing findings and the entire record available to us at this time, we find that the probable cause of the accident to NC 28394 (Eastern Air Lines Trip 21) on February 26, 1941, was the failure of the captain in charge of the flight to exercise the proper degree of care by not checking his altimeters to determine whether both were correctly set and properly functioning before commencing his landing approach. A substantial contributing factor was the absence of an established uniform cockpit procedure on Eastern Air Lines by which both the captain and pilot are required to make a complete check of the controls and instruments during landing operations.[1]
BY THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD:
/s/ Harllee Branch
Harllee Branch, Chairman
/s/ G. Grant Mason, Jr.
G. Grant Mason, Jr., Member
/s/ George P. Baker
George P. Baker, Member
(Mr. Edward P. Warner, Vice Chairman, and Mr. Oswald Ryan, Member, did not take part in the adoption of this report.)
- ↑ On May 8, 1941 the Board recommended to the Administrator that he institute an informal investigation of operating procedures being followed on Eastern. This investigation has been began and is still in progress.
A study is currently being made by the Board as to the advisability of promulgating requirements for type certification of instruments under Section 603 of the Act.
