Aviation Accident Report: Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 19/Appendix E

APPENDIX E

Radio logs for Pennsylvania-Central Airlines reveal the following information in connection with the operation of Trip 19 of August 31:

2:02 p.m. - Pittsburgh ground station called Trip 19. No acknowledgment. Pittsburgh repeated the flight plan which had been approved for this trip.

2:08 p.m. - Captain Scroggins to Pennsylvania-Central Airlines ground station, Washington: "Have a mechanic come out and turn our oil filter." Reply: "OK will do."

2:23 p.m. - Aircraft to ground station, Washington: "Trip 19 left the ramp 2:18 off the ground 2:21." Acknowledged by ground station 2:24 p.m.

2:31 p.m. - Trip 19 to ground station: "Trip 19 Herndon fan marker 2:31 4000 feet climbing contact." He gave his first departure from ramp at Washington: "Trip 19 first time leaving ramp 2:02 returned at 2:07." Acknowledged.

3:03 p.m. - Ground station at Pittsburgh and Washington called Trip 19. No acknowledgment. Pittsburgh broadcast to Trip 19: "Cleared Washington boundary to Scottsdale cruise 6000 Scottsdale at 4000 no delay expected traffic Trip 42 departed Pittsburgh 2:59 cruise 5000."

3:10 p.m. - Pittsburgh ground station to Trip 42: "If you see Trip 19 on the way give us a call."

3:14 p.m. - Pittsburgh called Trip 19: "Trip 19 advise your passengers you will change ships at Pittsburgh." Not acknowledged.

3:24 p.m. - Pittsburgh ground station to Trip 19: "Trip 19 cleared Frostburg to Pittsburgh tower circle field at 2500 feet before landing and look for light and will broadcast it on range. AW23PYW broadcast it. Also change to night frequency and give me a call." Not acknowledged.

3:39 p.m. - Pittsburgh ground station to Trip 19: "Trip 19 switch over on battery also change transmitter and try western day frequency and night frequency." Not acknowledged. Pittsburgh to Detroit: "Stand by on western day and night frequency." Pittsburgh repeated the above instructions to Trip 19. Not acknowledged.

3:39 p.m. - Pittsburgh to Trip 19: "Trip 19 change over to batteries and try changing your transmitter to western day and night frequencies." Not acknowledged.

3:41 p.m. - Pittsburgh to Trip 19: "Trip 19 Pittsburgh weather 3:35 p.m. estimated high broken lower broken visibility 4 miles smoke SE 10 ALTM 3000 scattered 2500". Not acknowledged. The above message was repeated to Trip 19. Not acknowledged.

3:44 p.m. - Pittsburgh to all ground stations: "Suspend traffic and operations for time being."

3:48 p.m. - Pittsburgh to Airways Radio Range Stations: "Airways broadcast clearance on BLV." Reply: "OK will do."

4:04 p.m. - Washington to Trip 19: Repeated 3:35 weather sequence. Not acknowledged.

4:04 p.m. - Pittsburgh broadcast complete weather sequence to Trip 19. Not acknowledged.

4:07 p.m. — Pittsburgh to Trip 19: "A ship south of the field about 4:02 at about 3000 circled then turned south into the overcast."

4:17 p.m. — Pittsburgh to Airways at Pittsburgh: "Airways advise all ships coming into Pittsburgh at the pilot's discretion until we hear from PCA Trip 19."

4:22 p.m — Pittsburgh called Trip 19. Not acknowledged. Pittsburgh to Harrisburg: "Did you hear Trip 19 call you?" Harrisburg: "No." Harrisburg called Trip 19. Not acknowledged.

5:23 p.m — Pittsburgh to all Stations: "Resume normal operations and traffic."