Page:Aviation Accident Report, United Air Lines Flight 12.pdf/5

Rh through the overcast and contact was established at 2,000 feet, over Coney Island, with visibility unlimited. During the descent through the overcast, according to Captain Wilson, a slight amount of ice was accumulated on the windshield, but as the propeller de-icers and airspeed pitot heaters had been placed in operation just prior to entering the overcast, no concern was felt and the icing condition was not considered to be of enough consequence to require use of the wing de-icers. After passing Coney Island the descent was continued toward the La Guardia range station and the ice which had accumulated on the windshield melted off at an altitude of about 1000 feet. Upon arriving over the La Guardia range station, the captain was instructed by the tower operator at La Guardia Field to use the No. 4 runway. After lining up with this runway, a normal power glide was made and the propeller controls were moved to the low-pitch position. At this point the first officer was alert for the captain's order for flaps down but the order was not given and flaps were not used. At a point approximately 400 feet beyond the southern boundary of the field, while at an altitude reported to have been between 6 and 10 feet, the right wing suddenly dropped and struck the runway without the wheels touching. The captain applied power to both engine as the wing started to drop, and testified that he felt the wing tip scrape the runway. The contact of the wing with the runway, in conjunction with the captain's manipulation of the controls and the sudden application of power, caused the aircraft to react upwards and to the left. The airplane, still in a stalled condition, was then headed to the left about 25 degrees off course. It made a second contact approximately 830 feet farther down the field with the left wing low and the left wheel off the runway. The aircraft was then headed north-northwest towards the bulkhead, which is the west boundary of the field