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to reach a position from which to start his landing approach on runway No. 6, a moderate rain was falling. However, he stated that the airport lights were plainly visible at this time from the left window of the pilot's cockpit, and he estimated visibility through the side window to be two miles. During this circle Captain Bryant reached a point directly east of the airport and headed the ship in a northerly direction up the Little Miami River Valley, continuing in this direction for approximately two miles. While at an altitude of about 450 feet above the level of the airport, a 180-degree left turn was made in order to approach runway No. 6 for a landing. Some time during or shortly after this maneuver, the landing lights of the airplane were turned on. Captain Bryant stated he was positive that he was lined up properly with runway No. 6 as he was flying at the proper angle to the new Turkey Bottom Road and could plainly see traffic lights along that road. A portion of this road is customarily used by pilots as a guide in lining up with the runway when making a landing under conditions of restricted visibility.
At a point about a mile north of the boundary of the airport, heavy rain was encountered which, according to the Captain's testimony, reduced his forward vision through the windshield to about one mile. The plane was not equipped with wipers or any other means of clearing the windshield of rain.[1] Captain Bryant also testified that as he continued his approach from the north he noticed that only one of the two green range lights for the No. 6 runway was burning. He stated that he had about 100 feet altitude when he passed over this one light and an
- ↑ Since the date of this accident, American has completed the installation of windshield wipers on all of its aircraft used in scheduled air carrier operations.
