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CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATION
An accident involving aircraft NC 21727 occurred in the vicinity of Vero Beach, Florida, on April 3, 1941, about 9:07 A.M.[1] while the aircraft was being operated in scheduled air carrier service between Miami, Florida, and New York, New York, as Trip 14 of Eastern Air Lines, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Eastern"). The accident resulted in the destruction of the airplane, serious injury to ten passengers and the three members of the crew, and minor injuries to the remaining three passengers. Although the accident occurred at approximately 9:07 A.M., the wreckage was not located until approximately 6:00 P.M. The Washington office of the Civil Aeronautics Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Board") was officially notified of the aircraft being overdue about 11:40 A.M. The Board immediately instructed their Senior Air Safety Investigator stationed at Atlanta, Georgia, to remain in constant contact with Eastern's personnel and assist them in locating the airplane. Confirmation of the aircraft being overdue, and its whereabouts unknown, was received at 3:20 P.M. the same day.
Inspection and Preservation of the Wreckage
Immediately after receiving this confirmation at 3:20 P.M. the Board initiated an investigation in accordance with the provisions of Section 702(a)(2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"). An Air Safety Investigator of the Safety Bureau of the Board was immediately dispatched from Atlanta, Georgia to Miami, Florida. En route he learned that the accident had occurred near Vero Beach, Florida, and so proceeded there, arriving about midnight, April 3, 1941. In accordance with instructions of the Board, the damaged airplane was placed under guard by members of the rescue party as soon as they arrived at the scene of the accident. About daylight, April 4, the first of the Board's investigators arrived at the scene of the accident immediately took custody of the wreckage and employed guards to relieve the members of the rescue party from this responsibility. The wreckage was not disturbed prior to the arrival of the Board's investigator except for damage necessarily involved in removing the injured passengers and crew. The guard was maintained until the inspection of the aircraft was completed and the aircraft released to Eastern on April 8, 1941.
Public Hearing
In connection with the investigation of the accident, a public hearing was held at Miami, Florida, beginning on April 10, and continuing through April 14, 1941. G. Grant Mason. Jr., one of the five members of the Board, was designated by the Board to preside as Examiner at the hearing. He was assisted by Robert W. Chrisp, an attorney of the Board, who acted as Associate Examiner; Robert D. Hoyt, Assistant Director of the Safety Bureau of the Board; Frank E. Caldwell, Chief of the Investigation Division of the Safety Bureau; W. K. Andrews, Chief of the Investigation Section of the Safety Bureau; Paul A. Gareau, Air Safety Specialist in Meteorology of the Safety Bureau; James N. Peyton, Investigator in Charge of the Atlanta Office of the Safety Bureau; and Ervin N. Townsend, Air Safety Investigator.
All of the evidence available to the Board at the time was presented at the hearing. Testimony was given by 35 witnesses and 27 exhibits were received in evidence. The depositions of the passengers and others were taken and have been made a part of the record of this investigation.
- ↑ All times used herein are Eastern Standard unless otherwise indicated.
