Page:CAB Accident Report, 1942 TWA DC-3 and Army C-53 mid-air collision.pdf/6

- 5 - feet and proceeded in the overcast on the west leg of the Columbia range until he intersected the northeast leg of the Kansas City beam. In encountering stronger adverse wind at the new altitude, he lost approximately 5 minutes from his estimated arrival time over Kansas City, between Columbia and the point of intersection with the northeast leg of the Kansas City Range over the fan marker at Excelsior Springs. He then made a wide turn, and was proceeding on the northeast leg toward Kansas City at 11:44 a.m. At the same time, 11:44 a.m, Kansas City Air Traffic Control, even though they were aware of the expected arrival over Kansas City of the Army C-53, cleared the TWA DC3 flight to take off from Kansas City and to proceed into the north quadrant. The Army C-53 continued on the northeast leg and at 11:47 was approaching the Kansas City Range Station when Captain Penn told Copilot Burrell that they were already 5 minutes late and to add 5 more minutes to their estimated time of arrival at Wichita. It was during or just after this conversation, as Burrell was preparing to make this report to Kansas City, that there was a lot of noise and the plane swerved, violently to the right. Captain Penn stated that he looked out of the right window, saw a definite swirl in the air and knew that another plane had gone by. The Army aircraft, with the right wing well down, turned to the right and began losing altitude. After some difficulty, Captain Penn was able to bring the right wing up and when he had gained partial control, he reported to the Kansas City Range Station that "We just collided with another plane at 4000 feet over the Kansas City Range Station. I want in the clear." He reported that a part of one wing was gone, and requested weather. After descending he estimated to have been about 1000 feet, he broke out contact at a 215° heading; He then saw two airports — the Fairfax and the Municipal. On account of the damage to the right wing, he decided to land as soon as possible, made a wide right turn, and landed at the Kansas City Municipal Airport.