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right wing tip and green navigation light showing above the roof of the American Airlines Hangar. The witness was unable to state whether the engines were under power inasmuch as the engines of the aircraft in which he was standing were idling, although the approach appeared to him to be normal for a landing with power on. At the time a light wet snow was falling and, according to the witness, the visibility was about one mile and the ceiling about 1,500 feet and variable.
Captain William F. Richmond was seated in the co-pilot's seat of the same Northwest Airlines airplane. In this position he had a clear view of the approaching aircraft and first observed it in a normal approach position approximately two miles southeast of the field at an altitude of about 300 feet, in line with the northwest runway with the landing lights and navigation lights on. As the aircraft reached a point just east of the point of impact at an altitude of 150 feet, he noticed the left wing start to drop very slowly to an angle of about 7 degrees, then whip sharply down in a manner which he characterized as similar to a stall which has been aggravated by the use of the opposing engine. The aircraft turned left and disappeared out of his line of vision behind the American Airlines Hanger. The witness stated that the last thing he saw was the right wing tip above the roof of the hangar. Although he was unable to hear whether the aircraft was under power or not, he was under the impression that Captain Scott was making an ordinary drag approach.[1] The witness
- ↑ A drag approach was described by the witness as an approach with about 25 per cent horsepower, with 18 to 20 in hg. manifold pressure and 2,100 r.p.m.
