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Upon the basis of all the evidence accumulated in the investigation and at the hearing, the Board now makes its report in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.
II
SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE
Air Carrier
Eastern Air Lines, a Delaware corporation, was operating at the time of the accident as an air carrier under certificates of public convenience and necessity and air carrier operating certificates issued pursuant to the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, authorizing it to engage an air carrier transportation with respect to persons, property, and mail on various routes, including that between the co-terminal points, Newark, New Jersey, and New York, New York, and the terminal point Miami, Florida, designated as Route 6, via numerous intermediate points, including Washington, D. C., Raleigh, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Flight Personnel
On the flight in question, the crew consisted of Captain Fred B. Cann, First Officer John R. Loveless, and Flight Steward John Predun.
Captain Cann, aged 46, who had a total of approximately 11,600 hours of flight time, was the holder of an airline transport pilot certificate and had been in the employ of Eastern about 13 years. Prior to the accident he had logged approximately 3500 hours in DC-2 and DC-3 airplanes. His last physical examination before the accident, required by the Civil Air Regulations, was taken on April 10, 1941, and showed that he was in satisfactory condition. A physical examination taken on October 13, 1941, after the accident, also showed that he was in satisfactory condition. Company records indicated that he was a well qualified and proficient pilot. On his last flight check prior to the accident, given on September 30, 1941, he received a satisfactory grade on all items checked.
First Officer John R. Loveless, aged 24, had a total flying time of approximately 2100 hours. He was originally employed by Eastern on June 12, 1940 prior to that time he had been on active duty with the United States Army Air Corps since June 16, 1938. At the time of the accident he held a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating and had logged a total of approximately 1114 hours as copilot in DC-2 and DC-3 airplanes. His last physical examination, required by the Civil Air Regulations, and taken about June 17, 1941, showed him to be in satisfactory condition. It appears from the evidence that both Captain Cann and First Officer Loveless were physically qualified and held proper certificates of competency for the flight and equipment involved.
Airplane and Equipment
Aircraft NC 19970 was a Douglas, Model DC-3, manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., of Santa Monica, California, in October, 1940, and purchased by Eastern on October 30, 1940. It was powered with two Wright Cyclone G202A engines, and at the time of the accident had flown a total of 3,171 hours, with replacements of engines and parts from time to time. The engines were equipped with Hamilton Standard, constant speed, hydromatic,
