- 5 -
While making his second trip around the field, Captain Hortman had requested permission from Airway Traffic Control at Cincinnati to land at Dayton. He testified that clearance to land was radioed from the Dayton Airport. The approach to the field was from the west. The landing gear was lowered and the flaps were extended at a point about one-half mile from the boundary of the airport. During the approach the aircraft was stalled at an altitude of from three to five feet and fell in on the left wing and stabilizer, bounced over on the right wheel, and was slowed down to a stop just off the runway. The ship was then taxied to the landing platform. The impact resulted in some damage to the left wing, left elevator, left stabilizer, right wing and fuselage. There was no evidence of any malfunctioning of the aircraft, engines or accessories prior to the impact.
Weather Conditions
The weather reports indicated that a zero visibility condition prevailed at the Dayton Municipal Airport from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. on June 27, 1942, and the airport was closed from 2:34 a.m. until 7:30 a.m.
The U.S. Weather Bureau observations for Dayton from 3:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. were as follows:
| SPECIAL | 3:00 a.m. | Instrument, high scattered clouds, visibility zero, dense ground fog, sea level pressure 1022.0, temperature 61, dew point 60, wind NE 3, altimeter setting 30.18 |
| 3:30 a.m. | Instrument, high scattered clouds, visibility zero, dense ground fog, sea level pressure 1022.0, temperature 58, dew point 58, wind NE 4, altimeter setting 30.18 | |
| 4:30 a.m. | Instrument, high scattered clouds, visibility zero, dense ground fog, sea level pressure 1022.0, temperature 58, dew point 58, wind NE 5, altimeter setting 30.18 | |
| 5:30 a.m. | Instrument, high scattered clouds, visibility ⅛ mile, dense ground fog, sea level pressure 1022.0, temperature 58, dew point 58, wind NE 4, altimeter setting 30.18. |
