Page:CAB Accident Report, Pennsylvania-Central Airlines Flight 143.pdf/15

 engine nacelles were damaged considerably. The blades of both propellers were damaged to some extent and those of the right propeller were found to be in the full-feathered position.

The forward part of the fuselage lay headed in an easterly direction on the west side of the wooded ridge at an elevation of 965 feet above sea level, approximately 110 feet below the tops of the trees which covered the top of the ridge directly in front of it. There is a gap in the wooded ridge about 250 feet north of where the wreckage lay. The lowest point of this gap is 978 feet above sea level and is covered by trees between 50 and 60 feet high. The airplane had flown approximately 2.4 miles from the point at which the right engine lost power to the point of the crash.

Immediately after the main portion of the fuselage came to rest on the ground Captain Wright cut the left engine switch. He then attempted to turn the fuel valve to the "off" position, but he found that it was jammed and could not be turned to this position. Since the cabin door could not be opened the passengers were removed through the emergency exit hatch in the roof of the cockpit. One of the passengers left the scene of the wreckage in an effort to locate a telephone and report the crash while the crew remained to guard the wreckage. As noted before, Captain Wright and First Officer Riley remained with the wreckage until the State Police arrived at approximately 5:45 p.m.

A detailed examination of the wreckage at the scene of the accident failed to indicate any structural, control, or mechanical failure in flight.