1943 — Oct 15, American Airlines Flight #63 Crash (icing) 12M E of Centerville, TN –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-24-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 15 Planecrashinfo.com. “1943…Accident Details.” [Incorrect on fatalities – see CAB
— 11 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description, American Flight 63, October 15, 1943
— 10 Civil Aeronautics Board. Investigation of an Accident Involving Aircraft, File No. 4889-43.
— 10 INS. “Wreckage of Liner Found in Tennessee.” Endicott Daily Bulletin, NY. 10-16-1943, 1.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1943, American Airlines:
“Date and Time: Friday 15 October 1943 23:17
“Type: Douglas DC-3-178
“Owner/operator: American Airlines
“Registration: NC16008 MSN: 1588
“Year of manufacture: 1936
….
“Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
….
“Location: near Centerville, TN – USA
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Passenger – Scheduled
“Departure airport: Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN
“Destination airport: Memphis Municipal Airport, TN
“Narrative:
“American Airlines Flight 63 (NC16008) left Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN, with 8 passengers and a crew of 3 on October 15, 1943, destination Memphis Municipal Airport TN. “The DC-3, named “Flagship Missouri”, climbed to 6000 feet and the pilot reported cruising at this level at 22:59. At 23:06 the flight called Nashville and requested permission to climb to 8000 feet, which was approved. However altitude was lost until the DC-3 descended into the thickly wooded southern slope of a hill which rose to a height of about 75 feet.”
Probable cause: “Inability of the aircraft to gain or maintain altitude due to carburetor ice or propeller ice or wing ice of some combination of these icing conditions while over terrain and in weather unsuitable for an emergency landing.
“Contributing factor: Weather conditions which, had their nature been anticipated, should have precluded the dispatch of the flight in an aircraft no equipped with wind or propeller deicing equipment.” (Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description, American Flight 63, October 15, 1943; citing CAB File No. 4889-43)
Civil Aeronautics Board. Investigation of an Accident Involving Aircraft, File No. 4889-43:
“An accident involving an aircraft of United States registry, NC 16088, a Douglas DC3, which was being operated by American Airlines, Inc., occurred near Centerville, Tennessee (approximately 42 miles southwest of Berry Field, Nashville, Tennessee (approximately 42 miles southwest of Berry Field, Nashville, Tennessee), about 11:17 p.m. (CST) on October 15, 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. The three members of the crew; one airline captain, a non-revenue passenger to Memphis; and all of the six revenue passengers were fatally injured. The aircraft struck the ground nose-first in a vertical attitude and was completely demolished by impact.” (p. 1)
….
Conclusion
“In the subject flight, the pilot was advised by the company meteorologist that the best winds would be found at 4000 feet. Captain Dyer did not choose to use that altitude and went on up to 6000 feet. While he did not give any reason therefor, the most logical reason appears to be that he was worried by below freezing temperatures and potential icing conditions, and believed he would be in above freezing temperature at 6000 feet. Wind conditions were expected to be less favorable above 4000 feet and could not account for the change to higher altitude. Soon thereafter Captain Dryer asked for a change of flight plan to 8000 feet without giving a reason. Again, there seems to be only one logical reason, namely, that he found temperature and potential icing conditions no better at 6000 feet and believed there still remained a layer of above-freezing air between the 6000 and 8000 foot levels. He probably felt he could avoid possible icing hazards by flying at around 8000 feet. As the aircraft was not equipped with a recording barograph, it could not be determined nor is it believed that the flight ever arrived at 8000 feet as the request was made only about 11 minutes prior to the accident. However, it appears probable that somewhere around the 6000-foot altitude, or somewhat above, considerable icing was encountered, and having no mechanical aids to dissipate wing or propeller ice, the pilot found it necessary to make a rapid descent to low altitudes where, as he probably realized by that time, the only above freezing temperatures existed. All evidence from the witnesses on the ground indicated that the flight circled and maneuvered at very low altitudes in the vicinity of the accident for some four to six minutes. Based on the approximate distance covered, this estimated time seems probable. This would indicate that the descent from an altitude estimated as 6000 feet or more feet was quite rapid and was made in some five to seven minutes.
“Meteorological conditions favorable for carburetor icing existed throughout the flight. It does not appear reasonable that carburetor icing could have developed during the climb due to the additional engine heat available, but assuming that severe icing was encountered on the aircraft and propellors at the peak of the climb, it becomes entirely possible that only partial clearance of ice on propellers was effected, forcing reduction of power and rapid descent. This condition could account for the crew being too busy to report having taken on ice and the descent under partial power, and difficult control could have made it possible for carburetor ice to develop. After breaking out below the overcast and reaching a temperature slightly above freezing, some loss of aircraft or propeller ice, or both, may have taken place, as it appears from statements of witnessed that further loss of altitude was quite gradual during the time the plane was seen. During this time below the overcase, Captain Dryer had his landing lights on, which strongly suggests that he could not climb and possibly could not maintain altitude. It is logical to believe that he was using the lights to assist him in avoiding obstructions and to make a landing if forced to do so. Due to the indications that continued lack of pow4r to maintain altitude existed, probably as a result of carburetor ice plus any remaining aircraft and propeller ice, he was forced to pull up or attempt to hold altitude as his only chance to escape immediate collision with trees on the hilly terrain. In so doing the airplane stalled, as definitely indicated by the vertical angle at which it dived to the ground. It is not conceivable that a pilot of Dryer’s experience would stall the airplane, or allow it to stall, unless conditions and circumstances existed over which he had no control.
Probable Cause
“Inability of the aircraft to gain or maintain altitude due to carburetor ice or propeller ice or wing ice or some combination of these icing conditions while over terrain and in weather unsuitable for an emergency landing.
Contributing Factor
“Weather conditions which, had their nature been anticipated, should have precluded the dispatch of the flight in an aircraft not equipped with wing or propeller deicing equipment.” (pp. 11-12.)
Planecrashinfo.com: “Route: Nashville – Memphis…AC Type: Douglas DC3-G102…Registration: NC16088….Aboard: 15 (passengers: 11, crew: 4)…Fatalities: 15…”
“Summary: The aircraft struck the ground nose-first in a vertical attitude while en route and was completely demolished by the impact. Inability of the aircraft to gain or maintain altitude due to carburetor ice, propeller ice or wing ice or some combination of these icing conditions, while over terrain and in weather unsuitable for an emergency landing. Weather conditions which, had their nature been anticipated, should have precluded the dispatch of the flight in an aircraft not equipped with wing or propeller deicing equipment.” (Planecrashinfo.com. “1943…Accident Details.”)
Newspaper
Oct 16, INS: “Centerville, Tenn., INS – The smoldering wreckage of a missing American Airlines plane was found today about 12 miles east of Centerville, and first reports stated that all 10 persons aboard were dead. A farmer came upon the wreckage. He reported there were no signs of life among the scattered debris that lay strewn over a rough terrain.
“Centerville is about 44 miles from Nashville. The plane had taken off from Nashville about midnight for Memphis. It was last heard from in a radio message from the pilot at 12:14 a.m., and in the continuing silence Army, Civil Air Patrol and American Airlines planes began an intensive search of the entire Tennessee river region.
“Company officials at Nashville identified those aboard the plane as follows:
Capt. Stuart H. Gayness, 4th Ferrying Squadron, Washinton,
- H. Clark, Dallas, Texas;
Blan R. Maxwell, attorney, Memphis, Tenn.;
Aviation Caden C. A. Hollinsworth, classification center, Nashville, home address,
Memphis;
- E. Miller, Memphis;
Marvin Risenn, Nashville.
Crew members:
Capt. Dale S. Dryer, based at Cleveland, Ohio;
Capt. Robert Jay, based at Memphis, making a route check, officials said;
1st Officer W. J. Brand, based at Cleveland,
Stewardess Margaret Jewell, based at Cleveland.
“Maxwell is speaker of the Tennessee Senate, and has often been mentioned as a possible successor to Gov. Prentice Cooper next year when Cooper completes the statutory limit of three terms.
“American Airlines officials reported the plane was ‘destroyed.’ Reports to the firm stated that weather conditions at the time of the flight were ‘definitely above minimum.’ [See CAB report.]
“Magistrate W. M. Yadelott, of Centerville, one of the first witnesses to return to Centerville from the scene of the crash…said the crash occurred 15 miles north of Centerville, near the Tennessee products plant.” (INS. “Wreckage of Liner Found in Tennessee.” Endicott Daily Bulletin, NY. 10-16-1943, 1.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network. 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. Investigation of an Accident Involving Aircraft, File No. 4889-43. Accessed 4-24-2024 at: https://reports.aviation-safety.net/1943/19431015-0_DC3_NC16008.pdf
INS. “Wreckage of Liner Found in Tennessee.” Endicott Daily Bulletin, NY. 10-16-1943, p. 1. Accessed 4-24-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/endicott-daily-bulletin-oct-16-1943-p-1/
Planecrashinfo.com. “1943…Accident Details…American Airlines Flight #63, October 15, 1943.” Accessed 7-9-2010 at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1943/1943-29.htm