Page:CAB Accident Report, American Airlines Flight 383.pdf/5

– 4 – A number of persons on the ground observed the aircraft during its approach. Their observations placed the aircraft approximately four miles east of the field on a northerly course while on the downwind leg. (See Attachment #1.) The flight was observed as it crossed the Ohio River and turned left to a westerly course. Witnesses stated that the aircraft had its navigation and landing lights on and that its altitude appeared to be low at this point.

Various witnesses located along the base leg stated that: The aircraft was proceeding in a westerly direction at a low altitude, the landing lights were on, the engine sounded loud and that it appeared to be in level flight, or at most, in a gradual descent.

At a point approximately 2-1/2 miles from the end of runway 18 the aircraft was observed to start a turn toward the field. One witness located one-half mile west of the accident site observed the aircraft for approximately the last 10 seconds of flight. He stated that he first saw four bright landing lights coming from the east toward his position. He then observed the aircraft bank rapidly to the left, crash into the hillside and burst into flame. He observed nothing unusual about the aircraft except that its position was too low to clear the terrain.

With regard to the weather, witnesses located along the aircraft's flightpath in the area of the downwind and base legs stated that a light rain was falling with lightning observed in the clouds to the west at the time they saw AA 383. Shortly after the aircraft passed a heavy rain commenced.

Witnesses located near the accident site reported heavy rain in this area at the time of the accident.

None of the witnesses saw lightning strike near or on the aircraft.

The pilot of a light aircraft, inbound to Cincinnati at the time of the accident testified as to his observations that evening. He stated that when he was approximately five miles northeast of the airport at an altitude of 2,000 feet and on a heading of 200 degrees he observed "... a streak of light ...," which he later assumed were the landing lights of the aircraft. He described the light as being below and directly ahead of his position, progressing from left to right. He further stated that the lights diminished in length during this period (3-5 seconds) then went out. Approximately four to five seconds later he saw flames erupt from the ground in that vicinity. He stated that the weather was generally VFR to the north of the field with thunderstorms located to the west and northwest. A line of light precipitation was observed over the Ohio River extending from west to the airport, east to a point between the airport and the WCKY towers with low scud clouds in the same general area. He also noted an area of heavy precipitation just starting in the immediate vicinity of the accident site. Little or no turbulence was experienced.

There were four survivors of this accident, a stewardess, two revenue passengers and a non-revenue AA pilot. The latter survivor was occupying the most forward window seat on the right side of the first-class cabin section. His testimony indicated that the flight en route from LaGuardia was routine, the initial descent into the Cincinnati area seemed rapid and that the lights of Cincinnati were visible to the north after level off. He further stated that the next time he looked out the window, "It seemed like we were very low ... I, then, sat there unconcerned, and it seems like we were on approach, after I looked out the window, and yet if seemed we had