Page:CAB Accident Report, American Airlines Flight 9.pdf/23

 Captain Susott testified that he was north of a proper alignment with the No. 1 runway upon his final approach and it was evident that this misalignment was responsible for his discovering that the poles would be in his line of flight. A more exact flight path might reasonably have been expected under the circumstances since Captain Susott not only was aware of the location of the west leg of the range station, which he had used as an aid in his orientation, but he also had the benefit of the neon approach lights which were seen by him to his left. These lights extend some 1,500 feet from the airport boundary and thereby provide ample distance for a correct alignment with the No. 1 runway, regardless of how far along that runway the actual landing is planned.

It is possible that if the poles had not been there and the flight path of the airplane had been continued without interruption, Captain Susott could have landed on the No. 1 runway at approximately where he had intended since he would have had an additional 1,500 feet in which to align himself for the final landing. However, Captain Susott was "surprised" to discover the poles in his flight path notwithstanding the fact that he testified that he had seen the poles on a previous flight. This indicates an error in knowledge on the part of Captain Susott in forgetting that the poles were on the airport.

Under all the circumstances which existed at the moment when he discovered that the poles were in the path of his approach for a landing, we find that there was an error in judgment on the part of Captain Susott in undertaking the series of maneuvers he performed in order to make a landing. In addition to minimum ceiling and visibility, conditions at the airport were made worse by the presence of low-lying scud. A light rain was falling,