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- At the time of departure from Pittsburgh the aircraft carried sufficient fuel to permit flight at normal cruising power to Dayton and thereafter for about two hours and thirty minutes, thus making available to Captain Hortman a choice between Detroit, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana, the alternate airports.
- While in flight between Pittsburgh and Dayton, Flight 3 was re-dispatched to Toledo, Ohio, with an appropriate alternate. This change in destination was accomplished in accordance with company procedure and the Civil Air Regulations.
- At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Dayton were below the approved minimums.
- Captain Hortman was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident.
- Although Flight 3, enroute, had been re-dispatched to Toledo, and while circling the Dayton Municipal Airport a spot weather report from the Dayton radio operator described the visibility as "not so good," Captain Hortman, on his emergency authority, elected to attempt a landing at Dayton.
PROBABLE CAUSE
On the basis of the foregoing findings and the entire record available to us at this time, we find that the probable cause of the accident involving NC 17320 (TWA's Flight 3 of June 26, 1942) on June 27, 1942, was a stall resulting from the action of the captain in attempting a landing under conditions of insufficient visibility.
APPROVED:
/s/ Oswald Ryan
/s/ Oswald Ryan
/s/ Harllee Branch
/s/ Harllee Branch
/s/ Edward Warner
/s/ Edward Warner
