Page:CAB Aircraft Accident Report, Allegheny Airlines Flight 371.pdf/1

 SA-351

ADOPTED November 3, 1960

At approximately 0947 s. s. t.e. s. t. [sic], on December 1, 1959, an Allegheny Airlines Martin 202, N174A, crashed on Bald Eagle Mountain about 13 miles south of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Airport. The crew of 3, one additional crew member, and 21 of the 22 revenue passengers were killed.

Allegheny Airlines Flight 371, a regularly scheduled flight, departed Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and proceeded regularly to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where it was observed in an approach to the airport.

The aircraft was observed to make a left turn while on final approach and disappear into clouds and snow showers on a southerly heading toward Bald Eagle Mountain where it was heard to crash shortly thereafter.

The Board believes that this accident was caused by the captain's failure to execute a timely abandoned approach. The probable accidental caging of the compass, which would have resulted in an erroneous heading indication, is considered to be a likely contributing factor.

Allegheny Airlines, immediately after learning of the possible effect of an accidental caging of the fluxgate compass, installed guards on the four aircraft in its fleet which had similar fluxgate compass caging switch installations.

A recommendation has been made by the Board to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency that suitable guards be required on all aircraft that have fluxgate compass caging switches located in a position which would permit inadvertent actuation.

Flight 371 of December 1, 1959, was scheduled between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland, Ohio, with stops at Harrisburg, Williamsport, Bradford, and Erie. The flight originated at Philadelphia after departing Atlantic City at 0718 as Ferry Flight 174 to Philadelphia.

USCOMM-DC-27128