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the required 30 days' line training. In this instance, the final check had not been given Copilot Briggs but was to be given him before the company formally rated him as a Convair captain. However, he had successfully completed the company's ground training program as set forth in the company's operational manual.
The authorized minimums for a straight-in approach to Runway 22 at LaGuardia for the subject aircraft are 500-foot ceiling and one mile visibility. The last report given the flight concerning LaGuardia weather for the 0900 sequence was, "estimated 1700 broken, one and one-half miles,..."
The standard range approach calls for passing over the range station, in line with and located 3.2 miles from Runway 22, at an altitude of 800 feet. With landing gear lowered and with wing flaps extended 21½ degrees, the rate of descent would be about 600 feet per minute with the air speed at 140 miles per hour. The intervening distance from range to runway is over water. The crew testified that the range was crossed at 800 feet altitude, whereupon the landing gear was lowered and the flaps were extended 21½ degrees.
Captain Marsh testified that he first had visual contact with the lights on the approach end of the runway at an altitude of 500 feet, and so advised Briggs, who was making the approach on instruments. Briggs testified that he glanced up, saw no lights, indicated to the captain that he had no visual contact, and continued descent by instrument. Marsh said that he then checked the flight instruments, ascertained that readings were as they should be, including an air speed of 140 miles per hour, and then looked again at the runway lights. This was at an altitude of 420 feet. Again he checked the
