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Structures
Initial examination of the main wreckage scene showed that the major portion of the aircraft was scattered over a large area in the vicinity of Bolivia, North Carolina. In addition, reports were received of wreckage being located at Kure Beach approximately 16 miles east of Bolivia.
It was apparent from the initial examination at the scene that a sizable portion of the fuselage was missing and as a result of this initial examination it was evident that a three-dimensional reconstruction of the fuselage and center wing wreckage was necessary to fully explore the aircraft disintegration pattern. The wreckage therefore was removed to a hanger at the Wilmington Airport where a chicken wire and wood framework was constructed, and which corresponded to the contour and size of a DC-6B fuselage.
All of the wreckage found at Kure Beach was found to be from the fuselage or from structure attached to the fuselage. There were two relatively large sections of the fuselage sidewall structure from the right side just aft of the lavatory, and two sections of interior hatrack structure from the same area. Also found at the Kure Beach area was a section of the wing fillet structure which attaches to the fuselage directly below the hydraulic compartment area, a section of the right side-wall of the hydraulic compartment, 3 of the 4 cabin oxygen bottles and one triple seat unit. Other pieces found at Kure Beach included pieces of fuselage frames, portions of plexiglass from cabin windows, pillows, seat cushions, window curtains, the right ice light, a life jacket, pieces of the right lavatory door, and aft partition.
Examination of the aircraft structure and the wreckage distribution indicated that an inflight disintegration of the aircraft had occurred, which initiated at a point in the fuselage near the leading edge of the right wing on the right side of the passenger cabin. The portions of wreckage recovered in the Kure Beach area were all from this general location.
After the fuselage wreckage was positioned on the mockup, it was found that approximately 90 percent of the fuselage plating or skin had been recovered and identified. Most of the missing pieces of the fuselage apparently came from an irregular-edged, triangular-shaped area above and extending forward from the leading edge of the wing on the right side of the fuselage. Numerous small fragments of upper fuselage shell structure from this triangular area, totaling about 20 square feet of surface were found, and identified, but their small size prevented their being positively located within this area.
A portion of fuselage between stations 238 and 260 was found to contain some 13 propeller cuts. All of these cuts were staggered and were positioned progressively forward as they progressed upward. The lowest cut, which was at station 25 between stringers 17 and 18, distinctly showed marks indicative of high-speed feathering of the metal, and it was evident that subsequent to the initial fuselage failure this portion was forced out and into the No. 3 propeller plane.
The fuselage flooring was relatively intact except for a missing area extending approximately 50 inches inboard from the right side of the fuselage and extending forward from station 410 about 14 inches. This missing area of flooring comprised the flooring between seat rows No. 6 and No. 7. The edges of the flooring adjacent
