ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT
Adopted: January 26, 1946
Released: February 1, 1946
AMERICAN AIRLINES - RURAL RETREAT, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 23, 1945
American Airlines Flight 9 en route from New York to Los Angeles departed New York at 2139 EWT[1] on February 22, 1945 and subsequently crashed about 0225 on February 23, 1945, approximately 5½ miles southwest of Rural Retreat, Virginia. The airplane crashed on the wooded summit of Glade Mountain killing fifteen of the nineteen passengers and both pilots. The four remaining passengers and the hostess received serious injuries and the airplane was demolished.
The site of the crash was approximately 3910 feet above sea level, 64 miles northeast of the Tri-City Airport and about 1½ miles to the left of the center of the airway. The nearest local community was Rural Retreat, Virginia, 5½ miles to the northeast of the site of the crash. The wreckage was strewn over a path of 450 feet and was not found until it was sighted from the air at 1240 on February 23. A rescue party arrived at the scene shortly thereafter.
Subsequent investigation disclosed that the first impact evidently occurred as the airplane was in approximately level flight and proceeding straight ahead at cruising power. From the first point of impact and for approximately 425 feet in the general direction of the course, trees were broken at decreasing heights until the plane struck the ground. Parts of the airplane were strewn along this whole path. A check of the airway radio facilities indicated that no irregularities prevailed at the time of the accident.
Passengers later testified that the plane had been passing through rain and clouds and encountering considerable turbulence for some time prior to the crash. Competent testimony as to the current weather supported the passengers' testimony. Survivors also stated that a freezing rain fell soon after the crash occurred. A summary of the weather conditions existing and forecast is given in the Appendix to this report.
Departure from Washington had been at 0011 of February 23 and routine position reports from the airplane had given no indication of difficulty up to the time of the crash. At 0150 a radio message had been received and acknowledged by the Captain reclearing the flight on instruments from Tri-City to Smithville and contact flight rules from
- ↑ Time throughout this report is Eastern War and based on the 24-hour clock.
