Page:CAB Accident Report, Northwest Airlines Flight 1.pdf/13

Rh the time of the accident.

We must, therefore, examine the events following Captain Shank's first approach in an effort to determine the causes leading up to the disaster. It would appear that Captain Shank probably intended to complete a landing on the first approach, but being dissatisfied with the situation at the time he contacted the ground, quite properly elected to go around again. The second trip across the airport was obviously for the purpose of observing conditions and planning his landing.

The third approach was most likely made in accordance with a definite plan. It appears that this landing, while shorter than the first, was made much farther down the runway than would be expected normally. Under the variable conditions that existed, it may be that during this approach cockpit vision was momentarily restricted to a considerable degree by a lowering of the visibility and moisture on the windshields. The fact that the wind was probably slightly aft of the beam would tend to carry the plane farther down the runway than Captain Shank anticipated. Furthermore, under the cross-wind conditions that existed, some power was probably being used over a considerable portion of the landing roll. However, with 2500 feet of usable runway in front of him it would still appear that the landing should have been brought to a successful conclusion within that distance. It may well be that restricted cockpit vision again had a bearing on what happened. The Miles City Airport is situated on a treeless plateau so that there is little in the vicinity of the ends of the runways to form a background that would assist in judging