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the Airliner could he identify it as the one his friend Reppert was aboard. He stated that his first knowledge of the collision was a "noise and a wrenching of my ship up and to my left." Shortly thereafter he noticed that a portion of his right de—icer boot had been ripped loose from the leading edge of the wing; that the right engine felt rough and that the aircraft handled a little sluggishly. He asked Copilot Leicht what had happened and was informed that "we hit the airliner." Lieutenant Wilson instructed Leicht to call the Palm Springs tower and notify them of the accident. He then circled the Palm Springs Army Airport, landed, and with his copilot proceeded to the office of the Commanding Officer to report the accident.
The radio log of the company station at Burbank and the testimony of the Burbank operator disclose that Burbank picked up a message from Trip 28 at exactly 5:15 p.m., as follows "Flight 28 from Burbank ... correction Burbank from Flight 28." The company radio operator at Burbank thought this unusual and directed a message to American's Flight Superintendent at Burbank, stating that he had heard Trip 28 call Burbank and that its carrier wave was heard about three times - just enough for him to distinguish the flight calling Burbank. The Burbank operator called back several times several times but received no answer from Trip 28. He stated that Phoenix and Tuscon both called Trip 28 several times thereafter but received no answer. As the time of the actual impact is estimated to have been about 5:l5 p.m. it is possible that Trip 28 was attempting to report the collision.
