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authority.  In fact. Lt. Stoner helped check out some of the check pilots of this base in a recent training program under Wing at Gaya, India.

The only accurate weather report, taken four minutes before the time of the accident gives the wind as Northeast at nine mile per hour.  This would not contribute toward pulling the ship off of the left side of the runway on a north take-off.  However, observors state that the general trend of the Wind all night was from West and shortly after the accident, when the Chairman of this Board arrived on scene, there was a West Wind.  The Tower Operator states the wind to have been North West at 4 mile per hour at the time he cleared the ship for take-off.

The C-46 has some tendency to go off to the left on a take-off, but it is not to a degree that it is difficult to handle.  The C-46 is considered difficult to handle in a cross wing by the members of the board.  Whether a gust, or the direction of the wind was from the West at the moment of take-off we cannot say, but it seem likely that it might have been and a contributing factor in pulling the ship off to the left of the runway.

[[underlined]] Cause: [[/underlined]] Pilot's error in that the airplane was allowed to leave runway on the take-off where the obstacles were encountered and the ship burned.

[[underlined]] Recommendations and steps to remedy cause: [[/underlined]] All aircraft and obstacles have been ordered removed from the side of the runway, and this will be accomplished at earliest possible moment.  Condition existed because Operations had to continue and there was no thoer place for aircraft to be assembled.

CHARLES P. COTTON,
Captain, Air Corps,
President Aircraft Accident Board.

LLOYD A. STOREY,
Captain, Air Corps,
Member, Aircraft Accident Board.

LOHREN V. APPLEGATE,
1st Lt. Air Corps,
Recorder, Aircraft Accident Boards.

A TRUE COPY
[[signature]]
GEORGE S CASSADY
Major, Air Corps,