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including witnesses from the vicinity of the accident and experts in various technical subjects involved in the investigation. Depositions of five passengers on board the airplane at the time of accident and the two surviving members of the crew were read into the record at the hearing.
While the Examiners and the representatives of the Safety Bureau were the only ones designated to ask questions directly of any witnesses, the Presiding examiner, acting under instructions of the Board, announced at the opening of the hearing that any person who had any evidence, questions, or suggestions to present for consideration in the proceeding, might submit them to the Examiners. Forty-seven questions were submitted and at the close of the hearing the Presiding Examiner announced that every question submitted had been asked unless the subject matter of the question had previously been covered by the testimony.
Upon the basis of all the evidence accumulated in the investigation and 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
Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was operating at the time of the accident as an air carrier under a
