Page:CAB Accident Report, Northeast Airlines Flight 801.pdf/5

 readings of flight instruments and found them satisfactory, including an air speed of 140 miles per hour. At 300 feet he once more checked the runway lights and noted that they appeared to rise rapidly and suddenly vanish. Almost simultaneously the aircraft was in the water.

Briggs stated that at no time during the approach did he have ground reference of any kind. He noted the altimeter indicator "going through" 300 feet and stated that almost immediately the aircraft struck. Neither pilot remembers any instrument reading below 300 feet. Both pilots testified, and the consensus of passengers' testimony concurs, that deceleration after the aircraft had contacted the water was uniform and although strong, was not violent.

Throughout the flight from Boston to the time of the crash there had been no malfunctioning of the aircraft or any of its components, including both powerplants.

Salvage operations were started as soon as feasible. They resulted in recovery of practically all of the aircraft, with the exception of both propellers. Divers furnished by the U. S. Navy were unable to recover these propellers, as the bottom of the bay in that area was littered with debris, including old pilings in exceptionally soft, deep silt.

The possibility of a malfunction causing propeller reversal during the approach was considered. As neither propeller was recovered, it is impossible to preclude absolutely this possibility. However, the testimony of both pilots makes this extremely remote.