INVESTIGATION AND HEARING
1. Investigation
The Board received notification of the accident at approximately 2025 on November 14, 1970, from the Federal Aviation Administration. An investigating team was immediately dispatched to the scene of the accident. Working groups were established for Operations, Air Traffic Control, Weather, Witnesses, Human Factors, Structures, Systems, Powerplants, Maintenance Records, and Flight and Voice Recorders. Interested parties included the Federal Aviation Administration; Southern Airways, Inc.; Douglas Aircraft Division; McDonnell-Douglas Corporation; Air Line Pilots Association; and Pratt & Whitney Division, United Aircraft Corporation. The on-scene investigation was completed on November 23, 1970.
2. Hearing
A public hearing was held at Huntington, West Virginia, on December 14-16, 1970. Parties to the Investigation included the Federal Aviation Administration; Southern Airways, Inc.; Douglas Aircraft Division, McDonnell-Douglas Corporation; and Air Line Pilots Association. The hearing was reconvened June 23-25, 1971, in Washington, D. C.
3. Preliminary Reports
A summary of the testimony which was taken at the first public hearing was published by the Board on January 25, 1971. An additional summary was released on July 28, 1971.
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