Aircraft Accident Report: Alaska Airlines Flight 779/Supplemental Data

by the Civil Aeronautics Board

S U P P L E M E N T A L D A T A

Investigation and Depositions

The Civil Aeronautics Board was notified of the occurrence of the accident at 0350 Alaska Daylight Time July 21, 1961. An investigation was immediately initiated in accordance with the provisions of Title VII of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. Depositions ordered by the Board were taken in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 4, 1961, and in Seattle, Washington, on August 8, 1961.

The Carrier

Alaska Airlines, Inc., is an Alaska Corporation with principal offices at 2320 6th Avenue, Seattle, Washington. The corporation is the holder of air carrier operating certificate No. 802 issued on September 23, 1946, and revised February 12, 1958. The corporation holds air carrier operating certificate No. 802 authorizing its charter and special service operation conducted under Part 42 of the Civil Air Regulations. The corporation holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The Aircraft

The aircraft was a Douglas DC-6A, manufactured as a cargo aircraft for Alaska Airlines under serial No. 45243 on October 20, 1957. The total time on the air frame at the time of the accident was 10,600:30 hours. The last major inspection was conducted l46:ll hours prior to the accident.

The powerplants consisted of four Pratt & Whitney R2800 CB 17 engines with propeller model No. 43E60-483-P9/6895 E-8. The time since overhaul on the engines was as follows: No. 1: 601:47 hours; No. 2: 601:47 hours; No. 3: 1,481:26 hours; and No. 4: 1,028:34 hours. Time since overhaul of the propellers was as follows: No. 1: 3,248:03 hours; No. 2: 1,280:37 hours; No. 3: 107:46 hours; and No. 4.: 1,597:39 hours.

Flight Personnel

Captain Edward F. Bowman, age 44, had been employed with Alaska Airlines since November 17, 1946. He had 13,019:31 total flying hours, 1,117:34 hours in DC-6 equipment, 4,219:00 hours night time, and 2,051:00 hours actual instrument time, 28:00 hours of which were flown in the last month preceding the accident. Captain Bowman possessed ATR No. 54701 showing certification in DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, and C-46 aircraft. His last route proficiency and instrument checks were conducted March 14, 1961. No route checks had been conducted over the particular route involved in the accident since the flight was conducted under the provisions of Part 42 of the Civil Air Regulations. Captain Bowman's first-class medical certificate was dated May 3, 1961.

Cocaptain Galvin W. Sargent, age 41, was hired by Alaska Airlines on June 16, 1961. He had a total of over 13,000 hours on four-engine equipment, including the DC-6. He had 714:12 hours of actual instrument time. He was given a DC-6 captain's proficiency and instrument check on June 21, 1961. Captain Sargent possessed ATR No. 35549-40 with ratings in Martin 202-424, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, C-46 and Boeing 377; single and multiengine land and commercial privileges. The date of his last class medical examination was June 23, 1961.

Copilot John F. Bird, Jr., age 29, was hired by Alaska Airlines on April 13, 1959. He possessed a flight engineer certificate No. 1439330 and commercial pilot certificate No. 1358926, airplane multiengine land and instrument rating. He completed first officer qualifications on DC-6 equipment May 21, 1961. Mr. Bird had accumulated 2,061 hours pilot time, of which 101 hours were in DC-6 equipment. He had also 150 hours of actual instrument time. His DC-6 engineer time was 780 hours. Mr. Bird possessed a first-class medical certificate dated May 25, 1961.

Flight Engineer William Donovan, age 26, was hired by Alaska Airlines on April 13, 1959. He possessed a commercial pilot certificate No. 136608 with single and multiengine land and instrument privileges. He had accumulated 1,175:55 pilot hours. He had a flight engineer certificate No. 1443248 and had completed training as a flight engineer with Alaska Airlines. The date of his first-class medical certificate was May 31, 1960.

Flight Engineer Dwight Babcock, age 28, was hired by Alaska Airlines on May 15, 1961. He possessed and A&P certificate No. 1329061 and a flight engineer certificate No. 13880698. He had approximately 1,200 hours as a flight engineer in DC-6 equipment. The date of his last first-class medical examination was June 28, 1961.

Flight Navigator Edson A. Marahrens, age 41, was hired by Alaska Airlines July 17, 1961. He possessed approximately 13,000 hours as a flight navigator and held certificate No. 1020664. This was his first flight with Alaska Airlines.

The GCA Controller

Mr. John R. Rohrbough, Jr., age 30, possesses control lower operator certificate No. 1336747 issued on April 3, 1956. On December 6, 1956, he was rated as a senior controller at Ontario International Airport, California. Prior to receiving his initial certificate, he had four years experience as a GCA operator for the U. S. Air Force with ratings at Scott AFB, Illinois; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Biggs AFB, Texas; and Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The date of his last Class II medical examination was 1958.

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