Page:CAB Accident Report, United Airlines Flight 21.pdf/23

 stated that at that time he thought the aircraft had made three-quarters of one turn of a spin before it struck the ground.

According to Captain Richmond, the wind at the time was northwest about 10 miles an hour, having veered from a westerly direction at 5:30 P. M. with a very light freezing mist falling and visibility up to two miles. The witness stated that the runways were so slippery that he had trouble taxying down the ramp prior to the time of the crash and on his subsequent take-off was unable to run up his engines because of his inability to hold the plane under power by the applications of his brakes. He further stated that neither precipitation nor ice was apparent on his windshield after his take-off until an altitude of 3,400 feet was reached.

Mr. Richard Rocos, a hangar attendant for Northwest Airlines, was walking east on 63rd Street near the southeast corner of the airport and almost directly on the northwest runway approach. He first noticed the aircraft approaching at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet with the navigation and landing lights on and in a position characterized by him as lower than usual for an approach to the northwest runway. He stated that he heard the motors alternately throttled back and power applied at least twice before the engines roared with a sudden burst of power. The left wing dropped abruptly, and the airplane described a sharp turn to the left. During this turn the nose dropped and the airplane struck the ground on the nose and left wing, with the engines still roaring. The witness was under the impression that the airplane had gained altitude between the time he first saw it and the time the left wing dropped. He was also of the opinion that both engines caught. At the time a wet snow was falling and freezing under foot.