Page:CAB Accident Report, American Airlines Flight 20.pdf/22

 approach. Captain Curry, who landed American's Trip 52 on runway 3-6 at 7:35 p.m., stated that one of the two green range lights marking the southern approach to runway 3-6 was out at the time he landed. Accordingly, the weight of the evidence convinces us that at the time of the final approach only one range light was burning at the north end of runway No. 6.

One of the principal questions presented is whether or not during the final approach the aircraft was properly lined up for a landing on runway No. 6. In view of Captain Bryant's testimony that during his final approach he did not see the range lights at the southern end of the runway, the red obstruction lights on the dike, nor any of the lighting system of the field except the one green light at the north end of runway No. 6, and in view of the fact that his only other guide was that stretch of Turkey Bottom Road which bears at an angle of about 10 degrees to the west from the true line of the runway, there is the possibility that Captain Bryant over-corrected to the extent of 15 degrees. The straight line of the wheel tracks running into the dike would seem to indicate this fact. However, both Captain Bryant and First Officer Murray upon the basis of observed landmarks concurred in the contention that when passing the airport boundary the aircraft was properly lined up with runway No. 6, and that the alteration in heading occurred when the aircraft ballooned into the air after being struck by a gust of wind and rain at a time when its wheels were touching or nearly touching the unpaved portion of runway No. 6. If the Captain and First Officer are correct in their description of what occurred, a substantial alteration in the heading of the aircraft must have resulted during a very short period of time. Not only must its heading have been altered 15 degrees but the aircraft itself must have been borne to the east a distance of about 400 feet. However, it is not impossible for