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shows that the plane traveled in almost a straight line toward the south for this entire distance.[1] Although small fires were started when the broken high tension line came in contact with one of the engines on the ground, they were quickly extinguished by ground crews from the airport who arrived at the scene a few minutes after the accident occurred.
Mr. Ralph W. Page, Manager of the Lambert-St. Louis Airport, and Mr. Charles Sessions, Station Manager for TWA at St. Louis, testified that they arrived at the scene within a few minutes after the accident occurred. They stated that they immediately inspected the airplane and control surfaces for indications of ice, but did not find any. Moreover, there was no ice on the ground and a drizzling rain was falling at the time. Several other witnesses who testified corroborated the testimony of Mr. Page and Mr. Sessions.
It was evident that no ice formed on the airplane during the flight from Kansas City. First Officer DioGuardi stated that he recorded outside air temperatures of 25 to 26 degrees at cruising levels and outside temperatures recorded on descent after passing New Florence were 32 degrees at 6,000 feet to 25 degrees at 3,000 feet. He said no ice formed on the airplane during cruising flight, descent, or in making the final approach at St. Louis. Jospeh H. Washburn, Manager, Photographic Department, Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank California, who was a passenger on board
- ↑ See Figure B, sketch of wreckage.
