Page:CAB Accident Report, American Airlines Flight 20.pdf/8

 periodic inspections and checks which are provided for in company practice and approved by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

American's Trip 20 of March 10, 1941, originating at the Chicago, Illinois, Municipal Airport and operating as a scheduled air carrier from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington, D. C. with an intermediate stop at Cincinnati, Ohio, was dispatched non-stop to Cincinnati at 5:15 p.m. (CST).

Prior to departure from Chicago, Captain Bryant, with the assistance of the company meteorologist and the assistant flight superintendent, prepared a flight plan for the route from Chicago, Illinois, to Washington, D. C. This flight plan was based on a trip forecast and terminal forecasts prepared by the company meteorologist using weather data issued by the United States Weather Bureau for various points along the route. (See Appendix A).

Th weather sequence reports indicated that at the time instrument conditions prevailed at Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville, and that contact conditions, with ceilings of 4000 feet or better, existed at Cincinnati, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. The latter city was designated as an alternate terminal on this trip in accordance with company procedure. The weather along the route and at Columbus was expected to remain well above the minimums prescribed by the company operations manual until after the flight was scheduled to arrive at Cincinnati or at Columbus, if necessary.

The 1:30 p.m. weather maps used in making the trip forecast