Page:CAB Accident Report, Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 19.pdf/13

 beginning of the "roaring noise" was 7 seconds. The point designated by her as the one at which she had seen the airplane just before she was momentarily blinded by lightning was 3½ degrees above the horizontal on a bearing of 255 degrees magnetic.

Mr. Carroll McGaha testified that he and his son were standing in the yard of their home located 4¼ miles southeast of the scene of the accident and approximately 4 miles to the right of the on course signal of the northwest leg of the Washington radio range when they observed an airplane pass over flying in a northwesterly direction. He stated that the airplane was proceeding normally at about the altitude at which he usually observed transport airplanes pass over flying in a northwesterly direction. His attention was particularly attracted to the plane because it was proceeding directly toward the dark storm clouds then in the vicinity of Short Hill. As the airplane approached the storm he saw a sharp "streak of lightning" which appeared "directly ahead" and "in line" with the airplane and saw the airplane go "straight down". After starting down, the witness stated that the plane "made a roar" which was distinctly heard by him and his son at the point where they were standing. After the roar had stopped, he heard a "rumble" of thunder. He then ran to the back of his farm, thinking that the airplane had crashed there.

Investigators for the Board again questioned Mr. McGaha at his home some time after the hearing and he explained in more detail his observation of the action of the airplane immediately following the lightning flash. He stated that the airplane seemed to go straight down until it passed from his view behind corn growing on a knoll located between the point where he was standing and that at which the airplane struck the ground. He said that he could see the flat surfaces of the wings and the tail above them. In answer to questions asked by the investigators he also stated that the sun had been shining at his place late in the morning of the day of the accident, but