1943 — July 28, American Air 63 thunderstorm downdraft crash 1M W Trammel, KY– 20
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-1-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–20 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description, American Air Flight 63, July 28, 1943.
–20 Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report (File No. 3525-43). American Airlines.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1943 (American Airlines):
“Date: Wednesday 28 July 1943 Time: 22:43
“Type: Douglas DC-3-178
“Owner/operator: American Airlines
“Registration: NC16014
“MSN: 1552
“Year of manufacture: 1936
….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 22
“Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off
….
“Location: 1.6 km [.99M] W of Trammel, KY
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Passenger – Scheduled
“Departure Airport Louisville-Bowman Field, KY
“Destination airport: Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN
“Investigating agency: CAB
“Narrative:
“Flight 63 originated at and left Cleveland about 17:42. The flight was cleared to Memphis with intermediate stops scheduled at Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville and Nashville. The DC-3, named “Flagship Ohio”, arrived at Louisville at 21:42. It was refueled and cleared to take off at 21:54 to fly at 2500 feet to Smiths Grove, Kentucky at 2500 feet and continue to Nashville at 2000 feet with estimated time of arrival at Nashville of 22:54. Near Smiths Grove, in an area with rolling terrain, varying in altitude from 695 to 720 feet above sea level, the plane descended until it contacted trees. The airplane continued through another small clump of trees, then across an open field and stopped in an upright position among several larger trees, about 1000 feet beyond the point of first impact.” (ASN, American Air Flight 63, July 28, 1943)
Four passengers survive.
Probable cause: “Loss of control of the aircraft due to unusually severe turbulence and violent downdraft caused by a thunderstorm of unknown and unpredictable intensity.” (ASN, American Air Flight 63, July 28, 1943; cites CAB File No. 3525-43)
Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report (File No. 3525-43):
“An accident involving an aircraft of United States registry, NC 16014, a Douglas DC-3, which was being operated by American Airlines, Inc., occurred about one mile west of Trammel, Kentucky (approximately 15 miles southeast of Bowling Green, Kentucky), about 10:43 p.m., (CWT) on July 28, 1943. The flight was identified by the air carrier as Flight 63, and was being operated in scheduled air carrier service between Cleveland, Ohio, and Memphis, Tennessee, with intermediate stops at Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Nashville. All four members of the crew and sixteen passengers (including an infant) were fatally injured. The two remaining passengers escaped with serious injuries. The aircraft struck the ground in nearly level flight and proceeded forward about 1,000 feet, during which time both engines, the right wing, and various smaller components were torn away. It was completely destroyed by impact and fire.” [p.1.]
History of the Flight
“Flight 63 originated at and left Cleveland about 5:42 p.m. EWT [Eastern War Time], cleared to Memphis on American’s Route 22…En route from Dayton to Cincinnati, the trip encountered adverse weather which, together with unreported Army traffic, made it seem advisable to return to Dayton. The situation at Cincinnati improved and after a delay of about 30 to 40 minutes the flight proceeded to Cincinnati and thence to Louisville, where it landed at 9:42 p.m CWT. It was refueled and cleared to take off at 9:54 p.m. to fly at 4000 feet with estimated time of arrival at Nashville of 10:54 p.m. …. [p. 3]
Witnesses
“Lieutenant Fellows, a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces, held a commercial pilot certificate, had been flying for approximately 16 years, and had accumulated about 5000 hours of solo flight time. He had boarded Flight 63 at Dayton. He testified that the flight had proceeded to the vicinity of Cincinnati and, presumably on account of weather, returned to Dayton. He stated that after a delay of 30 to 40 minutes the flight again left Dayton, landed at Cincinnati and that after leaving Cincinnati, he fell asleep and was not aware of the flight landing or taking off at Louisville. He said that he was occupying the extreme front single seat on the right side of the plane and that about ‘f or 10 minutes’ before the accident, the flight encountered severe turbulence which awakened him. He stated that his window curtain was open at the time and that he could ‘see the storm ahead and I tightened up my safety belt…The weather, outside of the storm, was not bad. I don’t think it was what you would call instrument weather. It was fairly clear.’ He told of seeing the storm directly in front of the, that it covered quite an area and, although he could not see its boundaries, he ‘noticed it was an unusually severe storm, unusually turbulent, and more lightning than I had ever seen in a storm before.’ He said there was heavy rain, that he was unable to estimate the altitude of the airplane, and that he did not notice any change of power during the five of ten minutes preceding the crash, but that ‘just immediately prior to the crash there was quite a sudden change in pressure, and of course a light feeling on the seat, which indicated a sudden loss of altitude to me….It seemed that maybe just as we hit there was, I believe, almost full application of power – at least a greatly increased application of power. And immediately thereafter the plane started hitting the ground, or the trees, whatever it was, almost instantaneous, it seemed. Everything seemed to happen at the same time.’ He stated that, ‘After the plane came to rest it was afire…It seemed like I was surrounded by fire…I know I didn’t see another person in the cabin of the airplane. I didn’t hear a sound outside of the sound of the crash. It seems there was a bulkhead, or whatever it was, in front. I believe it came down across between me and the other pile of seats…I noticed there was a hole outside of the fuselage. But it was all afire outside as well as inside. I crawled out that, out of the fire, and started running. From there on I don’t recall very much of what happened until I was walking up this trail, or whatever it was, toward the house. I do recall sitting y a tree with another survivor, and it seems to me I – tried to open the cabin door of the airplane, but I don’t fully recall as to whether I did or not.’….At another time during his testimony he stated that…when questioned as to his having any apprehension about going into or near the storm, he answered as to his having any apprehension about going into or near the storm…’Yes, I will say I was quite uneasy about going into the storm. It was the worst storm that I was ever in, in an airplane,’ and added, ‘In my opinion, I have no reason to believe the airplane was struck by lightning.’ He testified further that he had had considerable experience flying DC3 (Douglas) and B-244 (Consolidated) equipment, and had approximately 100 hours of night flying experience, but that he had always avoided flying through thunderstorms and, in fact, had never done so…. [pp. 4-5]
Findings
“….
“9. Weather reports which were furnished to the flight before it left Louisville for Nashville, indicated thunderheads south and north of Nashville, with frequent lightning to the north.
….
“11. The loss of altitude and ultimate collision with the ground was due to severe turbulence and violent downdrafts which made it impossible to maintain altitude…” [p. 13.]
Discussion.…Thunderstorms
“….Severe lightning…is the best warning we have of the presence of severe turbulence. Therefore, it is apparent that while flight in a thunderstorm area may not be hazardous, flight through a thunderstorm should be avoided….
Probable Cause:
“Loss of control of the aircraft due to unusually severe turbulence and violent downdraft caused by a thunderstorm of unknown and unpredictable intensity.” [p. 156.]
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1943. Accident Description. American Airlines Flight 63, July 28, 1943. Accessed 12-23-2008 at:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19430728-0
Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report (File No. 3525-43). American Airlines, Inc., Douglas DC-3, Near Trammel, Kentucky, July 28, 1943. Washington, DC: CAB, released April 22, 1944. Accessed 5-1-2024 at:
https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1943/19430728-0_DC3_NC16014.pdf