Page:CAB Accident Report, American Airlines Flight 9.pdf/15

 was immediately started toward the field. The airplane came out of the overcast east of the field at an altitude of about 400 feet in the vicinity of the Wabash Railroad tracks which run north of the field, and proceeded toward the airport flying at an altitude of 350 feet. Upon reaching the eastern boundary of the airport, the Captain observed that he was somewhat south of the No. 1 runway. He then flew in a west-northwesterly direction underneath the ceiling and crossed the north side of the field at the end of runway No. 3. In his testimony Captain Susott stated, "At this time and also previously, my plan was to land on runway No. 4 as I had been given a choice to land on runway No. 4 or No. 1 and because previous weather reports indicated I would have a northeasterly wind, or there had been a northeasterly wind, I had reason to believe we at that time still had easterly wind, although probably on the ground itself it might be practically calm."

After passing the northern boundary of the airport he proceeded westward and observed that the scattered clouds which had previously been reported were lying so close to the western boundary of the airport that in order to line up for a landing on No. 4 runway his visibility would have been reduced below the minimum of one mile. Therefore, he elected to come in on the No. 1 runway. He then made a gradual left turn and continued around the south side of the field, keeping the field in sight on his left and flying in an easterly direction.