On July 28, 1943 American Airlines Flight 63 was flown by a Douglas DC-3, named Flagship Ohio, routing Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati-Louisville-Nashville-Memphis, that crashed on the Louisville-Nashville sector about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of Trammel, Kentucky. The aircraft descended from 200 feet (61 m) until it struck trees, then slid across an open field and stopped in an upright position.[1] Of the 22 people on board, 20 died. The cause of the crash was loss of control due to severe turbulence and violent downdrafts.
American Airlines Flight 63
NC16014, the aircraft involved in the accident
Accident
Date
July 28, 1943
Summary
Loss of control due to severe turbulence and violent downdrafts
Flagship Ohio was a Douglas DC-3 manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company and owned and operated by American Airlines. Since its first flight in 1936, the aircraft had logged 17,991 hours of flight time.[1] At the time of the crash, it serviced a domestic scheduled passenger route with several stops in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Crashedit
Flight 63 departed Cleveland at approximately 5:42 pm on July 28, 1943. The flight proceeded normally during its scheduled stops in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Louisville. The aircraft arrived at its fourth stop, Louisville, at 9:42 pm. After refueling, the flight received clearance to depart at 9:54 pm.[1] During the Louisville-Nashville leg, the Flagship Ohio was crewed by four American Airlines personnel, and carried eighteen passengers.
The aircraft's departure clearance specified an altitude of 2,500 feet (760 m) to Smiths Grove, Kentucky, and then at 2,000 feet (610 m) onward to Nashville.[1] The projected arrival time was 10:54 pm — an hour's flight.
Thunderstorms around Smiths Grove caused extreme turbulence and strong downdrafts which forced the plane to lose altitude. The Smiths Grove area is characterized by hilly terrain with an elevation that ranges from 695 to 720 ft (212 to 219 m) above sea level.[1] The plane clipped a clump of trees before skidding across an open field until it came to rest in an upright position in a copse of trees approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) away from its initial point of impact.[1]
The Civil Aeronautics Board investigated the crash and determined that the extreme turbulence and conditions caused by the nearby thunderstorm created such severe flying conditions that the pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft.
Loss of control of the aircraft due to unusually severe turbulence and violent downdraft caused by a thunderstorm of unknown and unpredictable intensity.
— Civil Aeronautics Board, CAB File No. 325-43
All four crewmembers died in the crash. Of the eighteen passengers, only two survived.[1]
After the loss of the Flagship Ohio, American Airlines replaced the aircraft on the Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati-Louisville-Nashville-Memphis route with sister DC-3 Flagship Missouri. Three months later, on October 15, 1943, Flagship Missouri crashed on the Nashville-Memphis leg of the flight.[citation needed]
american, airlines, flight, flagship, ohio, other, incidents, board, flights, designated, american, airlines, flight, american, airlines, flight, disambiguation, july, 1943, american, airlines, flight, flown, douglas, named, flagship, ohio, routing, cleveland,. For other incidents on board flights designated American Airlines Flight 63 see American Airlines Flight 63 disambiguation On July 28 1943 American Airlines Flight 63 was flown by a Douglas DC 3 named Flagship Ohio routing Cleveland Columbus Dayton Cincinnati Louisville Nashville Memphis that crashed on the Louisville Nashville sector about 1 6 miles 2 6 km west of Trammel Kentucky The aircraft descended from 200 feet 61 m until it struck trees then slid across an open field and stopped in an upright position 1 Of the 22 people on board 20 died The cause of the crash was loss of control due to severe turbulence and violent downdrafts American Airlines Flight 63NC16014 the aircraft involved in the accidentAccidentDateJuly 28 1943SummaryLoss of control due to severe turbulence and violent downdraftsSiteAllen County 1 6 kilometres 0 99 mi west of Trammel Kentucky 36 47 8 22 N 86 22 16 65 W 36 7856167 N 86 3712917 W 36 7856167 86 3712917AircraftAircraft typeDouglas DC 3 178Aircraft nameFlagship OhioOperatorAmerican AirlinesRegistrationNC16014Flight originCleveland Ohio1st stopoverColumbus Ohio2nd stopoverDayton Ohio3rd stopoverCincinnati Ohio4th stopoverLouisville KentuckyLast stopoverNashville TennesseeDestinationMemphis TennesseeOccupants22Passengers18Crew4Fatalities20Survivors2 Contents 1 Aircraft 2 Crash 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksAircraft editFlagship Ohio was a Douglas DC 3 manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company and owned and operated by American Airlines Since its first flight in 1936 the aircraft had logged 17 991 hours of flight time 1 At the time of the crash it serviced a domestic scheduled passenger route with several stops in Ohio Kentucky and Tennessee Crash editFlight 63 departed Cleveland at approximately 5 42 pm on July 28 1943 The flight proceeded normally during its scheduled stops in Columbus Dayton Cincinnati and Louisville The aircraft arrived at its fourth stop Louisville at 9 42 pm After refueling the flight received clearance to depart at 9 54 pm 1 During the Louisville Nashville leg the Flagship Ohio was crewed by four American Airlines personnel and carried eighteen passengers The aircraft s departure clearance specified an altitude of 2 500 feet 760 m to Smiths Grove Kentucky and then at 2 000 feet 610 m onward to Nashville 1 The projected arrival time was 10 54 pm an hour s flight Thunderstorms around Smiths Grove caused extreme turbulence and strong downdrafts which forced the plane to lose altitude The Smiths Grove area is characterized by hilly terrain with an elevation that ranges from 695 to 720 ft 212 to 219 m above sea level 1 The plane clipped a clump of trees before skidding across an open field until it came to rest in an upright position in a copse of trees approximately 1 000 feet 300 m away from its initial point of impact 1 The Civil Aeronautics Board investigated the crash and determined that the extreme turbulence and conditions caused by the nearby thunderstorm created such severe flying conditions that the pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft Loss of control of the aircraft due to unusually severe turbulence and violent downdraft caused by a thunderstorm of unknown and unpredictable intensity Civil Aeronautics Board CAB File No 325 43 All four crewmembers died in the crash Of the eighteen passengers only two survived 1 After the loss of the Flagship Ohio American Airlines replaced the aircraft on the Cleveland Columbus Dayton Cincinnati Louisville Nashville Memphis route with sister DC 3 Flagship Missouri Three months later on October 15 1943 Flagship Missouri crashed on the Nashville Memphis leg of the flight citation needed See also editAmerican Airlines American Airlines Flight 63 Flagship Missouri American Airlines accidents and incidents List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraftReferences edit a b c d e f g Accident description for American Airlines Flight 63 at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on May 24 2009 External links editReport of the Civil Aeronautics Board PDF Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Airlines Flight 63 Flagship Ohio amp oldid 1169134728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
