Portal:Civil Aeronautics Board

“ Captain Susott testified that he then started a standard instrument approach by making a turn to this left to go out on the east leg of the radio range at 1,600 feet. The landing gear was then extended, and, after continuing out the east leg for three minutes, a procedure turn of 180 degrees was made, and, while heading back toward the range station, the airplane descended to an altitude of 1,100 feet above mean sea level. ”

“ Trip 9 was scheduled to leave the Chicago Municipal Airport at 12:40 P.M. (CST) on December 11, 1940, and, in accordance with regular company procedure, was cleared by the company flight superintendent at Chicago for an instrument flight to St. Louis. The clearance was based on current sequence weather reports, United States Weather Bureau weather forecasts, and a trip forecast made by the company meteorologist. The pilot's flight plan stated that he would climb to an altitude of 6,000 feet and the flight was cleared to cruise at that altitude by Airway Traffic Control at Chicago. ”

“ After breaking out of the overcast, Captain Susott planned to land toward the east on the No. 4 runway but was unable to do so because of the poor visibility resulting from the presence of low-lying scattered clouds west of the airport.
14. Captain Susott then attempted to land toward the west on the No. 1 runway but missed his approach and found himself headed directly toward the poles, previously referred to, which are located on the north side of the runway. ”

“ On the contrary, when weather conditions have reached the minimums, there is a corresponding increase in responsibility upon a pilot to make sure that all other conditions are favorable for continued operations or a landing, and pilot technique, knowledge, and judgment then are thrown into bold relief as being of primary importance. ”

“ Ceiling and visibility minimums have been established in order that all concerned may have available reasonable standards below, which no operations are permitted. When weather conditions reach the minimum standards permitting operations, that in itself should be no indication to pilots or other operating personnel that landings should be made. ”

“ While the examiners and the representatives of the Safety Bureau were the only ones designated to ask questions directly of any witness, the Presiding Examiner, acting under instruction of the Board, announced at the opening of the hearing that any person who had any evidence, questions, or suggestions to present for consideration in the proceeding might submit them to the Examiners. ”

“ During the investigation, consideration was given to the way in which all concerned with the flight performed their duties and the manner in which all of the equipment involved in the flight operated. ”

“ The nearest poles are about 300 feet from the north side of the number one runway, which is approximately 5,600 feet long and is used extensively by airplanes landing when instrument conditions prevail. ”

“ An accident involving aircraft NC 16015, while operating in scheduled air carrier service as Trip 9 of American Airlines, Inc., between Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, occurred near the Lambert-St. ”