behind the baggage compartment door. The top four or five feet of the A-26's fin and rudder were broken off and parts of these also struck the DC3 fuselage causing other holes behind the one previously mentioned. In the DC3 an infant passenger was fatally injured and three adult passengers received shock and minor injuries.
For an instant both aircraft continued in their original directions. The right propeller of the DC3 severed the A-26 fuselage at a point forward of the empennage. The A-26 rolled to an inverted position and at an altitude of about 900 feet its pilot successfully bailed out after ordering a gunner who was ridingforward to do likewise. This gunner, however, did not or was not able to bail out and was killed in the crash. The tail gunner was struck by a propeller of the DC3 and was probably killed at that time.
At the time of impact the captain of the DC3 was temporarily stunned by being thrown against the left side of the cockpit. However, he was able to maintain control of the aircraft by gliding steeply and shortly discovered that there was no power available from the right engine as its propeller blades were gone. At this time the copilot sent an emergency call stating that they had been in an air collision and giving the position. The aircraft continued in a sharp glide toward an open region and was landed with flaps and wheels up in a cotton field. Near the end of the landing run it groundlooped about 170° to the right and the right engine fell off. No personal injuries were sustained during this landing.
Captain Davis is to be commended for the high type of professional airmanship he displayed in safely landing the badly crippled airliner.
THE BOARD'S INVESTIGATION
The Atlanta Office of the Civil Aeronautics Board received notification about one hour after the collision occurred and the Board immediately initiated an investigation in accordance with the provisions of Section 702 (a) (2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended. The Senior Air Safety Investigator in charge of the Atlanta Office of the Board proceeded to Florence, S.C., arriving there at 1946 on July 12, 1945, and began the investigation. Other members of the Board's Safety Bureau staff arrived later and assisted in the investigation.
In connection with the investigation the Board ordered a Public Hearing which was hold at Miami, Fla., on July 21, 1945. The Chief of the Investigation Division served as Presiding Officer and others of the Safety Bureau staff participated.
– 2 –
