Page:CAB Aircraft Accident Report, Allegheny Airlines Flight 371.pdf/7

- 7 - He saw only a fleeting glimpse of an aircraft through the clouds proceeding on a southerly heading from its position south of the field. The captain stated he there after asked his first officer if he also had seen the aircraft and the first officer stated that he had not. After realizing that the aircraft might be off course or too far south if in an approach, the captain made written notes of his observations which were as follows. The heading of his aircraft (Capital DC-3) was 190 degrees magnetic the time was between 0947 and 0948, the other aircraft (presumedlypresumably [sic] Allegheny Flight 371) was on a southerly heading, straight and level flight; the altitude of the aircraft was not determined since the aircraft was visible for only a fraction of a second.

Several other witnesses also observed Flight 371 during the turn onto what would correspond to the final approach and its subsequent left turn onto the southerly heading. These witnesses all stated that they lost eight of the aircraft shortly after it was turned onto its southerly heading, owing to the clouds and/or snow showers existing in the direction of Bald Eagle Mountain.

One of the passengers aboard the aircraft survived the accident. This passenger suffered severe burns in the intense fire which followed the impact but was able to walk out of the wrecked fuselage. Because of his injuries this witness was unable to talk to CAB investigators until February 3, 1960, some two months after the accident

This witness stated that upon approaching the Williamsport Airport the flight steward announced this fact and the "No Smoking" and "Fasten Seat Belts" Signs were lighted. He stated that he observed the airport on the initial pass over the field and that the aircraft was then turned right, and when it came around the second time it was descending. He stated that on the second approach he saw the landing strips and that the aircraft, which was going straight into the airport, was turned left, entered a cloud bank or fog, and crashed shortly thereafter.

The witness indicated that shortly after entering the cloud or fog bank he heard the pilot "gun the motors" and at the same true he see trees. The aircraft crashed almost immediately after this.

This witness indicated that after this left turn the aircraft was flown straight and level in the clouds or fog until just before the crash when "the nose seemed to lift up." Just prior to the accident the cabin lights were on and nothing unusual was noticed.

The aircraft was found to have struck the north side of Bald Eagle Mountain in a very rocky area on a heading of 240 degrees magnetic and at an elevation of l,150 feet above sea level. Trees clipped off by the aircraft before ground contact indicated the aircraft was banked to the right about 45 to 50 degrees.

After initial contact the fuselage came to rest about 300 feet from the point of first contact on a heading of 260 degrees magnetic. Most of the passenger cabin area was consumed by the ground fire which followed the crash.

The actuating cylinders from the right and nose landing gears and their failed drag links showed them to have been extended at impact. The left landing gear was badly burned by the ground fire, but was found in a position about two-thirds retracted. The flaps were extended approximately 18 degrees.