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Control, the flight departed from Cleveland at 6:34 p.m. The flight then proceeded toward Leamington, Ontario, where Captain Read elected to hold in contact flight, awaiting an approach clearance to Detroit. Upon receiving such a clearance at 7:18 p.m., the flight proceeded toward the Windsor, Ontario, radio range station. It reported over Windsor at 7:23 p. m., contact at an altitude of 1625 feet above sea level, and continued contact to the Detroit City Airport, 8.8 miles from the range station. A weather report made at Detroit at 7:20 p.m. indicated: ceiling estimated as 1200 feet, overcast, lower broken clouds, visibility 1 mile, light snow, light fog, temperature 32, dew point 30, wind northeast 6 m.p.h., altimeter setting 29.76.
The control tower operator at Detroit contacted Trip 17 at 7:24 p.m. and advised that the wind was northeast 6 m.p.h. with light snow. The operator testified that he also advised Trip 17 that previous flights had been landing on the east-northeast–west-southwest runway.[1] Captain Read, however, stated that the control tower operator did not suggest the use of that runway. First Officer Ricks testified that he could not recall whether the control tower operator made such a suggestion. Although Captain Read did not request it, the control tower operator turned on the floodlights at the east-northeast end of the runway.
- ↑ The Detroit City Airport is an L-shaped field. The only runways suitable for air carrier operation are the east-northeast–west-southwest runway and the northwest-southeast runway. There are a number of high obstructions in the vicinity of the airport and along its approaches. See map opposite p.
