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Conduct of Investigation
An accident occurred approximately 3 miles north of Palm Springs, California, at about 5:15 p.m. (PWT)[1] on October 23, 1942. It involved a collision between an aircraft of U. S. registry NC 16017 and a U.S. Army Bomber B-34, at an altitude of about 9000 feet, on Civil Green Airway Number 5. At the time of the accident Douglas Aircraft NC 16017 was operating in scheduled air carrier service from Burbank, California, to Phoenix, Arizona, as part of Trip 28 of American Airlines, Inc.[2] The B-34 was being operated by the Ferrying Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces[3] on a ferrying flight from Long Beach, California, to Palm Springs, California. The Douglas crashed to the ground and was completely destroyed by impact and subsequent fire. The nine passengers and the three crew members were fatally injured. The B-34 received only minor damage as a result of the collision and was landed safely at the Army Airport of the Sixth Ferrying Command, Palm Springs, California, without injury to either occupant.
Inspection and Preservation of the Wreckage
The Santa Monica Office of the Civil Aeronautics Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board) received notification of the accident at about 7:30 p.m. on October 23 and the Board immediately initiated an investigation in accordance with the provisions of Section 702 (a)(2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.[4] Air safety investigators of the Board proceeded to the scene of the accident immediately and arrived there shortly before midnight the same day. The wreckage of the Airliner had been placed under United States
- ↑ All times referred to herein are Pacific War Time.
- ↑ Hereinafter referred to as "American."
- ↑ Hereinafter referred to as "Army."
- ↑ Section 702 (a)(2) provides that it shall be the duty of the Board to "Investigate such accidents and report to the Authority the facts, conditions, and circumstances relating to each accident and the probable cause thereof."
