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Events Preceding the Accident
Trip 71 arrived at Botwood at approximately 5:00 p.m. local Botwood time, on October 3, and was moored to a buoy adjacent to the R.C.A.F. seaplane station pier. After the passengers had been taken ashore, fuel was taken on board, 450 gallons being placed in each outboard tank and a quantity sufficient to bring the total capacity to 1500 gallons was placed in the center tank. Captain Wilson then obtained clearance to proceed to Gander Bay, Newfoundland, there repairs could he made to a cracked exhaust stack bracket, and where the passengers and crew could be quartered for the night. The captain boarded the plane to take the usual preflight cockpit checks and the passengers embarked about 10 minutes later. First Officer Lindsay remained on shore, assisting American Export's station representatives with the weight and balance reports. Lindsey then boarded the aircraft, instructed the stewardess on the seating arrangement of the passengers, and remained in the cabin to personally supervise the seating. The seating arrangement was 8 passengers in Compartment 1, 8 in No. 2, 8 in No. 3, and 2 in No. 4. In this position the c.g. location was 23.4, which was within allowable limits. Weight at the time of take-off from Botwood was 23,309 kilos (approximately 51,390 pounds). The maximum permissible weight for this aircraft is 57,800 pounds. During this time, the engines had been started and the captain had taxied to the take-off area.
After the engines were warmed, and the take-off area had been patrolled for floating obstructions by the station launch, the captain gave the order to "stand by for take-off"
The Flight
The take-off run was made in a northerly direction. As the aircraft came up onto the step, the nose dropped and the plane began to porpoise. On the second or third porpoise the plane left the water, and after
