only about 20° to the right and rolled into the ditch, left wheel first, at an estimated Speed of 10 or 15 m.p.h., about 95 feet to the left of a boundary marker. It rolled down the sloping side turning parallel with the ditch and stopped abruptly at the concrete-lined bottom where it immediately burned.
Both pilots and persons nearby extricated passengers from the flaming wreckage and were soon assisted by U.S. Army and National Airport fire fighting and medical aid stationed on the field
THE BOARD'S INVESTIGATION
Notification of the accident was received by the Washington Office of the Civil Aeronautics Board about 1315 EWT, April 27, 1945, and an investigation was initiated immediately in accordance with the provisions of Section 702 (a) (2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended. H. G. Myers, Air Safety Investigator at Large, and A. E. Cabana, Senior Air Safety Investigator of the New York Office, arrived at the scene of the accident about 20 minutes later and found the wreckage under U.S. Army guard. Other personnel of the Board's Safety Bureau subsequently arrived and assisted in the investigation.
Hearing
A public hearing was held on May 4 and 5 at the Departmental Auditorium, Washington, D.C., and on May 7 at the National Museum, Washington, D.C. W. K. Andrews, Chief, Investigation Section of the Safety Bureau, presided. Other Safety Bureau personnel participating were: H. G. Myers, A. E. Cabana, Jesse K. Penno, Chief, Investigation Division; R. B. Bancroft and N. G. Crowley, Report Editors; Fred G. Powell, Senior Investigator, J. O. Fluet, Investigator; and W. E. Koneczny, G. M. French and K. C. Senner, Bureau Specialists on Aircraft, Meteorology and Powerplants, respectively. Also participating were Philip Schleit, Albert Grisard and Merrill Armour of the General Counsel's Office of the Board.
Flight Personnel
Captain John W. Decker and Copilot Edwin A. Sanford comprised the crew.
Captain Decker, age 30, held a current airline transport pilot Certificate with ratings for single and multi-engine land airplanes up to 3000 h.p. His last physical examination required by the Civil Air Regulations was passed on November 2, 1944. He had flown about 3,115 hours of which some 65 hours had been for Page Airways in the aircraft involved. Decker was employed by Page Airways on April 3, 1945. He had a diversified aeronautical background including about two years as co-pilot on a scheduled air carrier and one and one-half years as a test pilot for an aircraft manufacturer just prior to going with Page Airways.
Copilot Sanford, age 30, held a currently effective commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land airplanes up to 340 h.p., instrument and flight instructor. His last physical examination required by the Civil Air Regulations was passed on March 29, 1945.
