- 3 -
right wing was still moving downward. The airplane immediately yawed heavily to the right and rolled rapidly to the right, well beyond a 90—degree bank.
Immediately after Berke had applied right aileron and early in the yaw—roll movement of the aircraft, Baum took the controls and applied full left aileron. At this time the aircraft was rolling to the right. The roll stopped after the wings had passed the vertical and then rolled back to the left even more rapidly and violently than to the right. The survivors stated during these two rotations sounds were heard which could have been the engines separating from the aircraft. They also stated that during these rolls the thrust levers were seen to snap and the cables go slack.
The movements of the airplane which followed were described as "spins" or "snap rolls." Although the exact number of rotations could not be determined, the survivors were in agreement that the aircraft rotated to the left and that the rate of roll finally slowed almost to a stop with the aircraft in an inverted nosedown attitude. The left roll was continued and the recovery was made to an upright position with the aircraft in a medium dive.
A normal pullout was made from the dive, during which it was noted that the engine instruments indicated complete absence of thrust on engines Nos. 1, 2, and 4. In addition, the thrust levers and start levers for engines Nos. 1, 2, and 4 were completely slack. Flight Engineer Krause also reported a complete loss of electrical power.
During most of the flight and throughout the uncontrolled gyrations of the aircraft, all eight occupants were on the flight deck. Immediately after control was gained, Mr. Huebner went aft to determine what, if any, damage had been sustained. He stated that No. 1 and No. 4 engines were gone and there were small fires in the areas where the engines had been. He said No. 2 engine was also on fire and it appeared that the forward mount had failed and the engine was hanging down at an angle with the tailpipe pointed into the flap.
Huebner went back to the flight deck and informed the pilots of his observations. Shortly after this Mr. Allsopp stated that he saw a very large fire burning the area of the No. 2 engine and that that engine, as well as Nos. 1 and 4, was gone. The aircraft by this time had descended through the overcast and he suggested that an immediate ditching be made in Lake Cavenaugh, which was very close. Baum, who had taken over the controls at the first upset, was apparently looking for a more suitable landing area or attempting to reach an airfield nearby and continued his circle east of the lake.[1]
During this time Mr Hagan took over the flight engineer's station. The four survivors - Krause, Symmank, Allsopp, and Huebner - then took ditching positions in the rear of the aircraft. The fire emanating from the area of No. 2 engine continued to burn fiercely. It was seen to burn a hole in the flaps and to consume most of the left starboard aileron. It also burned through the top wing surface and the survivors stated that they could see the structure in the interior of the wing.
- ↑ See Attachment "B."
