Michelmore v. United States (299 F. Supp. 1116, 1969)

OPINION MEMORANDUM

WESTOVER, District Judge.

Dorman D. Michelmore, a resident of Reseda, California, owned a twin-engine Beechcraft airplane (hereinafter referred to as the “Baron”) and was a licensed pilot, holding private license certificate #1772471, rated for multi-engine and single-engine land airplanes; on the certificate were no medical limitations.

Accompanied by his son, John B. Michelmore, and by Jack Edward Spaulding, Mr. Michelmore departed Los Angeles in the Baron on March 26, 1965, en route to the Sebring Auto Races in Sebring, Florida. Upon arrival at Houston, Texas, it was decided, because of adverse weather conditions, to ground-the Baron there and to continue the trip to Sebring by commercial flight. At the conclusion of the Sebring races the three individuals returned to Houston; and on March 29, 1965 Dorman D. Michelmore, pilot of the Baron, filed by telephone with the Houston Flight Service Station a Visual Flight Rules flight plan, destination El Paso, Texas, and at the same time he asked for weather information along the route of his proposed flight.

The Houston Flight Service Station gave to Mr. Michelmore the weather information then available to it. Some four minutes after his departure from Houston at 10:46 Central Time, Mr. Michelmore established radio communication with the Houston Flight Service Station and, at this contact, further weather information, known as Sigmet Alpha 1, was given to him.

Mr. Michelmore possessed a private pilot’s license which authorized him to fly single- and twin-engine aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR). The limitation of VFR means that a pilot may fly only when visibility is not less than three miles forward, and the plane is to be operated at no time closer than 500 feet below, 1000 feet above, or 2000 feet horizontally from any cloud formation (14 C.F.R. 91.105). To operate aircraft when visibility is less than three miles or when flight through clouds is to be conducted, the pilot must be instrument rated (IFR qualified) which means he must be able to navigate his aircraft through air space solely by reference to instruments within the cock-pit and without outside visual reference. Dorman D. Michelmore was a VFR pilot. He was not qualified as an IFR pilot.

At the time of take-off a+ Houston the weather there was overcast; and the pilot was informed by government employees that northwest of Austin a cold front was approaching Austin and would probably cross his line of flight and that he could expect thunderstorms and cloudy weather after leaving Houston. In the face of such adverse weather information Mr. Michelmore decided to ^proceed with the flight to El Paso, Texas.

Leaving Houston, Mr. Michelmore flew in VFR weather, which condition continued for some distance west of Houston. He discovered, however, that not only was there an overcast between Houston and Austin but also, on top of the overcast, was a second overcast; that after penetrating and passing through the lower overcast he found cloud formations above, below, and on either side. After departing Houston, Mr. Michelmore had to detour around thunderclouds.

Approaching Austin, he was conscious of the fact that the clouds were closing in, but apparently he decided either that the clouds would be scattered and he would be able to see the ground or that the cloud formation was not deep. Dorman D. Michelmore first contacted the Austin Flight Service Station at 11:20 A.M., at which time he reported he was in VFR condition. Approximately four minutes later — he called and said he was in the clouds.

The Baron’s cruising speed was approximately 230 miles per hour or about 4 miles per minute. At 11:33:25 the Baron contacted Austin Approach Control, stating that he had lost VFR and asking if Austin Approach Control had him on the scope. Austin Approach Control requested the Baron’s heading, and at that time the pilot reported:

“Ah three one five zero degrees, * * *, I can maintain on auto pilot but I would prefer to get down if I can.”

Austin Approach Control inquired

“ * * * are you instrument rated?”

Mr. Michelmore responded:

“Negative.”

And to the Austin Approach Control’s inquiry whether the Baron was in VFR conditions at that time, the pilot again responded in the negative.

Pursuant to Mr. Michelmore’s statement that he would prefer to get down, the Austin Approach Control informed him as follows:

“I’ll be unable to approve approach for your aircraft unless you declare an emergency since you’re not an instrument rated pilot, * *

And Mr. Michelmore replied:

“ * * *, I guess I’ll have to declare emergency. * *

He was then asked by Austin Approach Control if he was ILS equipped and whether he was familiar with ILS, and he replied in the affirmative.

Inasmuch as the Baron could not be located on the Austin Approach Center scope, Mr. Michelmore was directed to

“ * * * turn right heading zero two zero degrees for radar identification, * *

The directed turn was made, and Mr. Michelmore was informed by Austin Approach Control:

“ * * radar contact turn right heading one two zero.”

He was requested to give his altitude, to which Mr. Michelmore responded that he was thirty-seven hundred.

The Austin Approach Control instructed him to

“ * * ", descend and maintain two thousand two hundred.”

And Mr. Michelmore replied,

“I’m descending very rapidly.”

Thereafter, Austin Approach Control lost the Baron on radar and could not contact the pilot. Subsequently it was ascertained that the plane had crashed at. approximately 11:39 A.M. and all three occupants had been killed.

The personal representatives of Dorman D. Michelmore and Jack Edward Spaulding filed suit under the Tort Claims Act — Title 28 United States Code, § 1346(b) — alleging negligence on the part of Federal employees. Plaintiffs contend that Federal employees at the Houston Flight Service Station were negligent in giving weather information to the pilot, Dorman D. Michelmore.

The evidence discloses, however, that the Houston Flight Service Station gave to Dorman D. Michelmore all weather information available at the time he filed his flight plan and again when he was air-borne. The pilot knew of the overcast condition at Houston. He had information of thunder clouds along his proposed flight route. He had information of the cold front approaching Austin from the northwest and although, at the time he left Houston, Houston was VFR, the pilot could, nevertheless, have contemplated that the weather report indicated the weather condition west of Houston would deteriorate.

Plaintiffs seem to believe that not only was it the responsibility of the Houston Flight Service Station employees to give requested weather information but, in addition, they should also have advised Dorman D. Michelmore against his contemplated flight.

A pilot commands his aircraft; his is the final decision as to its operation. (14 C.F.R. 91.3). No authority has been cited to the court to indicate that a Flight Service Station, in disseminating weather information, has an additional duty to advise a pilot that he should not “take off.” If the weather is sufficiently adverse, the station may, however, refuse clearance. But, having information as to contemplated weather conditions when he has been given clearance, the pilot has the responsibility to determine whether it is safe or unsafe to undertake a proposed flight, for he and he alone knows the capability of his aircraft, and he and he alone knows his own qualification to operate the aircraft.

Plaintiffs also contend that the Federal employees at Austin Approach Control, in giving directions to turn the Baron and descend for landing, were negligent; they assert that the turns as directed, in conjunction with the directions to descend, caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft and were, consequently, the direct and proximate cause of the accident.

It cannot be disputed that Dorman D. Michelmore was negligent in flying into an IFR condition when he was not an IFR certificated pilot. But plaintiffs contend that even though he may have been negligent in flying into IFR conditions he, nevertheless, after finding himself in such weather, was excused for his negligent conduct as Austin Approach Control had the last clear chance to extricate him from his hazardous position.

During the trial of this case there was much speculation as to what occurred in the cock-pit of the Baron after Mr. Michelmore had piloted his plane into the cloud formation.

Evidence was introduced to attempt to establish that Dorman D. Miehelmore’s application for pilot’s license failed to contain correct answers to some of the questions as to his general health and, consequently, that he received a license to which he was not entitled. Defendant also attempted to establish there had been a failure of the automatic pilot under which Mr. Michelmore notified Austin Approach Control he was flying and that this automatic pilot failure had been the proximate cause of the crash.

Plaintiff on the other hand tried to substantiate that after the Baron flew into the clouds Mr. Michelmore became subject to spatial disorientation, commonly known as vertigo. Just when spatial disorientation commenced, if there was spatial disorientation, is a matter of conjecture.

One witness testified that the moment a pilot found his plane in the clouds and had lost ground contact he experienced spatial disorientation. From the record, however, it can be adduced that Dorman D. Michelmore took his aircraft into the clouds under automatic pilot and that the automatic pilot could have maintained the plane in level flight and headed in the right direction.

Another witness testified that when a pilot becomes spatially disoriented he has a tendency to disbelieve his own instruments, as a result of which there is such a thing as overriding the automatic pilot. Again, there is no evidence upon which could be based a finding that the automatic pilot had failed to function or that the operator had overridden the automatic pilot. These are but theories and conjectures of the respective parties in an endeavor to arrive at some explanation of the crash.

Another contention advanced by plaintiffs is that the pilot could have been given directions to a VFR airport or instructed to ascend “above the clouds.”

It seems to the court that this case can be decided without resorting to conjecture concerning spatial disorientation, or mal-function of the automatic pilot; or operator overriding of the automatic pilot, or directing the pilot to another airport or to ascend above the clouds.

To recover in their actions plaintiffs must substantiate some negligence on the part of a government employee, which negligence proximately caused the crash. It would seem that plaintiffs attempt to hold flight service employees to a responsibility greater than that in ordinary negligence cases. Fortunately, a complete record of the conversations between Dorman D. Michelmore and the ground was kept and was made available to the court. In reviewing the several requests and the directions plaintiffs now say, in retrospect, that the government employees did not give correct instructions to the pilot.

Plaintiffs allege that the directed turns should have been shallower, and plaintiffs emphasize that spatial disorientation was brought about by following directions for a deep turn and descent at the same time.

Dorman D. Michelmore confronted the Austin Approach Control with an emergency. Approach Control had in the air over Austin (among other aircraft in the air) a VFR pilot who was flying in IFR conditions. Not only was the Baron in danger, but there was also peril that other aircraft in that vicinity could come in contact with the Baron which was flying blind. Something had to be done immediately.

The first essential step was to locate the Baron on the Austin Approach Control radarscope. As heretofore pointed out, when asked for a heading the Baron’s pilot gave

“Ah three one five zero degrees, *• * *»

Evidently this heading was incorrect, for the plane could not be located on the scope on the heading given by Dorman D. Michelmore; consequently, the direction was given to him to make a right turn for radar identification. Before the direction to turn was given, the Austin Approach Control had ascertained from Mr. Michelmore that he was on automatic pilot and that the aircraft was ILS equipped, with which equipment Mr. Michelmore was familiar.

The direction to turn right, heading zero two zero for radar identification was a standard turn. Plaintiffs contend, however, that the person giving such direction was negligent, as the turn should have been made in stages or steps rather than at one time.

The turn could have been made safely as directed on automatic pilot, provided the automatic pilot was functioning and there was no overriding of the automatic pilot. There was no indication given to the director on the ground that Mr. Michelmore could not make a turn heading zero two zero in safety. In fact, the turn was made safely, for in a few seconds the Baron had turned and was located on the scope.

If the plane was to land, the next step required was to line it up for the runway. As a consequence, a direction was given to the Baron to “turn right, heading one two zero.” Again, plaintiffs contend that such a turn direction should not have been given; that if it was necessary to turn the plane to that extent, it could have been turned in a short turn rather than in the long turn directed. If the automatic pilot was functioning and if the plane operator was, indeed, familiar with his ILS equipment as he had indicated, this turn, too, could have been negotiated in complete safety by Dorman D. Michel-more.

At the expiration of sufficient time to have made the turn, Mr. Michelmore was instructed to descend and maintain at 2200 feet. Had the turn been completed as directed, the descent to 2200 could have been made in safety.

Plaintiffs are incorrect in their assertion that the pilot was given direction to turn and descend at the same time, as the record clearly shows the order to descend was given after sufficient time had elapsed for Mr. Michelmore to have completed the turn as directed.

Was there negligence of the Austin Approach Control employee in giving instructions relative to turns and descent ?

Was there anything to indicate that the turns and descent could not have been made in safety ?

Discussing plaintiff’s burden in a negligence action similar to the causes now before this court, a United States District Court in Massachusetts, in Smerdon v. United States, 135 F.Supp. 929 said, at page 931:

“In order to sustain his burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that the government was negligent, the plaintiff must establish that the government’s employees were negligent in the performance of their operational duties, and that such negligence was the proximate cause of the injury complained of. * *

The Supreme Court of the United States in 1872, in The Nitro-Glycerine Case, 82 U.S. 524, 21 L.Ed. 206 defined negligence (pages 536-537) as follows:

“* -x- ‘Negligence’ has been defined to be ‘the omission to do something which a reasonable man, guided by those considerations which ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, would do, or doing something which a prudent and reasonable man would not do.’ [Citing Blyth v. Birmington Water Works, 11 Exchequer, 784]. It must be determined in all cases by reference to the situation and knowledge of the parties and all the attendant circumstances. What would be extreme care under one condition of knowledge, and one state of circumstances, would be gross negligence with different knowledge and in changed circumstances. The law is reasonable in its judgments in this respect. It does not charge culpable negligence upon any one who takes the usual precautions against accident, which careful and prudent men are accustomed to take under similar circumstances.”

In a Texas case the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stated:

“Liability growing out of the operation of aircraft is to be determined by the ordinary rules of negligence and due care. * *

United States v. Schultetus, 277 F.2d 322, at 325, 86 A.L.R.2d 375.

In the causes now before this court, to determine whether the flight controller was negligent it is necessary to examine the facts in the light of the knowledge available to the flight controller and the situation then existing. He knew that he had a VFR pilot in the air operating under IFR conditions. He also had the pilot’s declaration of emergency with which to cope and a request by that pilot “to get down if I can.”

Inasmuch as these actions are brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act the law of Texas is to be applied. (28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)). It is advisable, however, to examine (with reference to the doctrine of emergency) cases arising in other states.

In a Missouri case, Hobbs v. Renick, 304 F.2d 856, the Court discusses the emergency doctrine and states, at page 861, the following: