CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATION
A landing accident involving aircraft NC 21788 occurred at the Detroit City Airport, Detroit, Michigan, on March 2, 1942, about 7:28 p.m. (EWT),[1] while the aircraft was operating in scheduled air carrier service between Washington, D.C. and Detroit, Michigan, as Trip 17 of the Pennsylvania-Central Airlines Corporation.[2] The accident resulted in major damage to the aircraft; however, none of the 14 passengers or 5 members of the crew was injured.
The Wayne, Michigan, office of the Civil Aeronautics Board[3] was notified of the accident about 8:15 p.m. the same evening. Immediately after receiving this notification the Board initiated an investigation of the accident in accordance with the provisions of section 702(a)(2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.[4] An investigator for the Board was sent to the scene of the accident and arrived there about 9:25 p.m. that evening.
The wreckage was guarded by Detroit police and PCA employees until the arrival of the investigator for the Board. The investigator made an examination of the aircraft at the scene of the accident and then authorized its removal to the PCA hangar at the airport where a more complete examination was made. The aircraft was released to PCA on March 4, 1942.
