- 6 -
The aircraft passed over the airport at an altitude of about 1000 feet, headed south-westerly and approximately parallel with the northeast-southwest runway. The seat belt sign was turned on and the landing gear was extended and locked. The mixture controls were set in the proper position for landing. After passing the field the captain started a left turn and began to decrease altitude. When the aircraft had descended to approximately 700 feet it was brought back to level flight and shortly afterward the remainder of a 360-degree turn was completed. Upon the conclusion of this turn the aircraft was still at an altitude of about 700 feet, approximately northeast of the northeast-southwest runway and lined up with it.
The captain did not order the flaps put down, even partially, and the approach was continued. He did not turn on the aircraft's landing lights. He stated that this part of the approach was made at an air speed between 85 and 90 m.p.h. Captain Cann further stated that during the final approach, he entered the fog or smoke about the height of the beacon.[1] First Officer Loveless estimated the top of the fog to be one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet in height. First contact with the ground was made on the left side of the runway about 760 feet beyond its northeast end. The aircraft first struck on its right wheel and in a tail-high attitude, the left wheel making its first contact about 42 feet beyond. The right tire blew out almost immediately upon contact, the right wheel broke, and other parts of the right landing gear were damaged. The tips of the right propeller blades struck the ground. The aircraft bounced, touched the runway again about 700 feet beyond, swerved sharply to the right, and then came to rest. During the swerve the left tire also failed. The accident occurred at 2:10 a.m. When asked to state his observation with respect to the lights after the airplane first made contact with the ground, First Officer Loveless testified that the field flood lights were on and the ground was discernible to a certain degree, but after the airplane bounced from the runway he could not see anything more, except that probably if he had looked, he could have seen lights at the west side of the field.
Mr. Davis, Eastern's transportation agent at Savannah, was standing outside the Administration Building at the time the aircraft was approaching for a landing. He stated that he first saw it at an altitude of 25 or 50 feet as it was coming over the northeast end of the runway in what seemed to him to be a normal approach. He continued observing the aircraft until just prior to its contact with the ground, at which time he turned and lost sight of it. However, Davis states that although he heard the noise of the impact, fog prevented him from again seeing the airplane, which finally came to rest about 2000 feet approximately to the west of him.
Earle R. Foote, a soldier attached to the United States Army Air Base at Savannah, witnessed the accident. At the time he was on duty at the airport guarding the Army aircraft which Captain Cann had been advised were parked to the left of the runway. Mr. Foote was standing near these aircraft, which were not equipped with obstruction lights, and he was approximately 375 feet from the point at which aircraft NC 19970 first contacted the ground.
He testified that about the time of the accident fog of variable density was drifting
- ↑ The beacon light is 50 feet high and is located approximately 400 feet east of the east side of the Administration Building.
