IV. Discussion:
No evidence has been found of any material malfunction which may have contributed to the accident by necessitating a course of action which the conditions of weather and terrain rendered hazardous. Statements of witnesses, inspection of maintenance records and what evidence the records disclosed could lead only to the conclusion that there was no equipment failure.
It is apparent that the weather situation was observed by the pilot over a priod of approximately three hours prior to the accident and that there was available considerable information concerning the conditions at Morgantown throughout that period. The general trend of the weather was clearly towards below minimum conditions at Morgantown at the estimated time of arrival, indicating that there would be little likelihood of being able to make a landing under contact flight rule conditions from the proposed flight altitude of 2500 feet.
The altitude of 2500 feet obviously was chosen by Captain Jones so as to permit the flight to remain below the overcast if possible since a Morgantown landing is permitted only under contact flight rules. If contact flight became impossible at any time during the flight the proper procedure would have been to climb to at least the minimum authorized instrument altitude and proceed in accordance with instrument flight rules, obtaining a new clearance from Airway Traffic Control. Although the minimum altitude for actual instrument flight from Pittsburgh to Morgantown as specified in the carrier's operations manual was sanctioned by the Air Carrier Division of the Civil Aeronautics Administration was 3300 feet, the altitude of 2500 feet submitted by Captain Jones was approved under an
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