The Civil Air Regulations require strict adherence to the prescribed and approved company approach procedure which, with respect to Burbank, specifies that 4500 feet shall be the minimum altitude during the early stage of the approach. The fact that the aircraft struck trees at an altitude of 3400 feet, and that the barograph indicated an altitude of about 3400 feet at approximately that time, clearly shows that Captain Davis did not adhere to the 4500-foot minimum. A careful check of the aircraft's two altimeters, made the day following the accident, disclosed that one read about five feet too high and the other about 55 feet too low. These small irregularities were not pertinent to the accident.
Captain Davis' testimony, as well as that of First Officer Brandt, indicates an extreme laxness in cockpit procedure, with no specific division of duties between captain and first officer, particularly during instrument approaches. In this case, Captain Davis was endeavoring to fly a let-down procedure on the radio range, and at the same time to carry on a two-way conversation with his dispatcher.
| PROBABLE CAUSE: | Failure of pilot to comply with the approved let-down procedure. |
BY THE BOARD
Secretary
