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Jacksonville, Florida. His flight plan called for cruising at 3000 feet. He flew over scattered clouds in the vicinity of West Palm Beach. After viewing the weather to the north of West Palm Beach, which the captain described as "pretty black", he descended to 1000 feet and proceeded northwest toward what appeared to be more favorable weather. After flying on this course for a short distance he realized that the weather was worse to the west. He therefore returned toward Stuart and proceeded north up the coast. He passed Vero Beach, the point on his flight nearest the scene of the accident, at 10:31 A.M., approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes after the accident, where he encountered light rain and reduced visibility. He landed at Jacksonville at 11:50 A.M. without having encountered more than moderate turbulence at any point.
Captain Robertson, in command of Trip 315, departed from Jacksonville at 7:30 A.M. southbound en route to Miami via Daytona Beach, Orlando, Vero Beach, and West Palm Beach, under a flight plan calling for cruising at 4000 feet to Daytona Beach; 1000 feet from Daytona Beach to Orlando; and 2000 feet from Orlando to Miami. He flew by reference to the ground to Daytona Beach, arriving there at 8:15 A.M. and departing at 8:20 A.M. He arrived at Orlando at 8:40 A.M. where he encountered light rain. The trip departed from Orlando at 8:50 A.M., cruised at 2000 feet to Vero Beach, and arrived there at 9:35 A.M. At the time Captain Robertson arrived at Vero Beach visibility was one mile to two miles with heavy rain and the ceiling was 1000 feet variable. At 9:38 A.M. he departed from Vero Beach and climbed to 2000 feet but, after encountering severe turbulence at this altitude, he changed his flight plan to 1000 feet. In the vicinity of Fort Pierce, he passed under what he described as a "line squall" where he encountered some turbulence. The remaining portion of the trip was normal.
Three United States Coast Guardsmen stationed at Fort Pierce, Florida, which is about 22 miles southeast of the scene of the accident, testified at the hearing. These men, occupationally accustomed to observe weather stated that about 9:00 A.M. a very dark and low cloud system approached from the north, accompanied by heavy hailstones about the size of a quarter. A few minutes later a heavy rain began to fall, which was accompanied by a gusty wind that uprooted trees and was estimated to be about 40 m.p.h.
An airplane was observed by one of the Coast Guardsmen to pass just east of the Fort Pierce Coast Guard Station about 8:55 A.M. This airplane was later identified as an Army airplane en route from Miami to Jacksonville. The pilot of this plane (Major Kenneth A. Rogers, United States Army Air Corps) stated that at the time he passed Vero Beach the ceiling was about 800 feet and that just north of Vero Beach he had encountered heavy rain, accompanied by severe turbulence.
The United States Airway Weather Observer at Vero Beach issued a special weather bulletin at 8:55 A.M. which reported a wind shift from east-southeast 26 m.p.h. to north-northwest 20 m.p.h and a mild thunderstorm with light rain. At 9:10 A.M. the Airway Weather Observer at Vero Beach issued another special weather bulletin reporting a moderate thunderstorm with heavy rain.
Examination of the Wreckage
The wreckage of NC 21727 was examined by representatives at the Civil Aeronautics Board. The examination did not reveal any evidence of failure of the structure, or control system, or of malfunctioning of either engine or of either propeller, prior to impact. An examination
