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clean off snow which had accumulated on the wings, tail, and control surfaces of the airplane while it was on the ground. After taxiing out for the take-off, the airplane was returned to the ramp to pick up a passenger who inadvertently had been left at the terminal. Actual take-off was then made at 2:44 a.m.
According to the testimony of First Officer DioGuardi, the flight proceeded normally, making a radio position report over Higginsville (47 miles from Kansas City) at 7,000 feet on instruments at 3:01 a.m. As the flight progressed toward St. Louis a radio position report was made over Columbia Missouri, (118 miles from Kansas City) at 3:25 a.m., while flying between layers of clouds, and the flight remained between layers of clouds until it passed over New Florence, Missouri, (49 miles from St. Louis) at 3:42 a.m. When Trip 6 reported over New Florence, the TWA operator at St. Louis transmitted the flight the following 3:35 a.m. Weather Bureau observation: "St. Louis 600 feet, variable, overcast, lower broken clouds, visibility two miles, light drizzle, light fog, temperature 32, dew point 31, wind northwest 4, barometer 30.20, scattered clouds at 300 feet." Captain Scott started his descent at this point and passed over Weldon Springs, Missouri (20 miles from St. Louis) at 3:55 a.m. on instruments at 3,000 feet. Airway Traffic control through the TWA radio Operator then gave Trip 6 a traffic clearance to the St. Louis control tower.[1]
The flight continued to descend and at 4:04 a.m. passed over the St. Louis radio range station an the initial approach flying in an easterly direction at an altitude of 1,700 feet above sea level,
- ↑ The basic responsibility of Airway Traffic Control is to prevent collisions between aircraft operating under instrument conditions. They have no further responsibility for the safety of the flight. Decisions on whether a flight is advisable or may be made with safety under existing weather conditions are the responsibility of the pilot and the air carrier dispatcher.
