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an easterly direction until it covered an area extending approximately 4 miles east and southeast of the scene of the accident. It is estimated that when the airplane arrived in this storm area, the rain had reached a point approximately 1¾ miles southeast of the scene of the accident.[1] This estimate was arrived at by a consideration of the testimony of Mr. Vincell and a statement made by Mr. Harry E. Everhart. Mr. Everhart, who lives 1½ miles southeast of the scene of the accident, stated that it was raining heavily at his place at the time he heard the "roaring of engines". Mr. Vincell, who lives 2½ miles southeast of the point of impact, said that it was not raining at his place when he heard the crash, but that the heavy rain reached his home shortly thereafter.
It is impossible to reach any definite conclusion as to the altitude of the ceiling immediately to the east and southeast of the storm area at the time the airplane reached that area. The two Pennsylvania Central Airlines pilots who flew near the scene of the accident within a few moments of the time it occurred stated that they entered an overcast near Charles Town, West Virginia, and descended through it almost to Leesburg before they broke out at 3000 feet. Other pilots flying further south and southeast of the scene of the accident came out of the overcast at altitudes as low as 1500 feet. On the other hand, Mr. McGaha stated that he saw the airplane flying through scud at an altitude which he later compared to that of a similar type airplane which was flying at a known altitude of 6000 feet. The testimony of the airline and other pilots flying farther south and southeast of the scene of the accident as to the
- ↑ See Appendix C.
