Just looked it up it was owned by a flying service...
DWYER FLYING SERVICE
Street MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
City MASON CITY
State IOWA Zip Code 50401
County CERRO GORDO
Country UNITED STATES
Surely they had some libality in dispatching the airplane/pilot into conditions they knew the pilot was not qualified to fly in.
( He had bustred a inst check ride just shortly before)
(Highlighted Text = Mine)
Despite the damage to the cockpit the following readings were obtained:
* Magneto switches were both in the "off" position.
* Battery and generator switches were in the "on" position.
* The tachometer r.p.m. needle was stuck at 2200.
* Fuel pressure, oil temperature and pressure gauges were stuck in the normal or green range.
* The attitude gyro indicator was stuck in a manner indicative of a 90-degree angle.
* The rate of climb indicator was stuck at 3,000-feet-per-minute descent.
* The airspeed indicator needle was stuck between 165-170 mph.
* The directional gyro was caged.
* The omni selector was positioned at 114.9, the frequency of the Mason City omni range.
* The course selector indicated a 360-degree course. * The transmitter(1) was tuned to 122.1, the frequency for Mason City.
* The transmitter(2) was tuned to 122.1, the frequency for Mason City.
* The Lear autopilot was not operable.