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In connection with the investigation, a hearing was held in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 9 and 10, 1942, with W. K. Andrews, Chief, Investigation Section, Safety Bureau of the Board, acting as Presiding Officer. The following personnel of the Safety Bureau participated in the hearing: R. P. Parshall, Senior Air Safety Investigator; and W. F. Bridgeman and H. G. Boonstra, Air Safety Investigators.
Upon the basis of all the evidence accumulated during the investigation, the board now makes its report in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.
SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE
Flight Personnel
The TWA crew consisted of Lawrence Earl Welch, Captain, and Maurice Melvin Lipke, first officer. Joseph Urban Goetz, a first officer employed by TWA, was the only other person aboard.
Captain Welch had logged approximately 4488 hours of flying time, of which 2886 were flown in airline operation. He held on airline transport pilot certificate and was rated for multi-engine landplanes of 1000–3000 h.p. His last physical examination, required by the Civil Air Regulations, was taken on July 8, 1942, and a subsequent physical examination was given him by TWA on September 30, 1942. He had been employed by TWA since December 15, 1938.
First Officer Lipke had been employed by TWA since June 2, 1941. He had logged about 1500 flying hours, of which approximately 700 were accumulated in the employ of TWA. His last physical examination, required by Civil Air Regulations, was taken on December 3, 1941. He held a commercial pilot certificate with instrument and instructor ratings.
