Atlanta

N1505V departed Sinton, Texas, at 0845, on a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) non-stop flight to Baltimore, Maryland, with Pilot Arthur Hilton Soper, Copilot Joseph R. Kolodzie, and three passengers, all company executives. No flight plan was filed with CAA. Prior to departure, the pilot telephoned the forecaster at the nearest U. S. Weather Bureau Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, and was briefed on an route weather conditions. He was advised that the weather should remain suitable for VFR flight as far as Atlanta but beyond that point ceilings would probably lower. Pilot Soper said that if these conditions existed when he was near Atlanta he would land and refuel. A routine flight was made to Atlanta and the aircraft landed at 1313. The aircraft was on the ground approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes because ARTC (Air Route Traffic Control) could not clear the flight sooner due to traffic delays in the Washington area. During this period the pilot was briefed an en route weather and the aircraft was refueled with 208 gallons of 100 octane fuel. The aircraft departed Atlanta at 1535 for Baltimore on an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) clearance. The clearance specified a cruising altitude of 11,000 feet over airways Green 6 and Red 77 to Lynchburg,, Virginia, Red 37 to Gordonsville, Virginia, and Red 33 and Red 17 to Baltimore. 2 At 1628, when in the vicinity of Spartanburg, South Carolina, the flight requested a change in altitude to at least 1,000 feet on top of clouds because icing conditions were being encountered. This necessitated a climb of approximately 5,000 feet which was immediately approved by ARTC. At 1708, Greensboro, North Carolina, radio received the following position report: "N1505V on instrument flight rules 6 minutes northeast of Greensboro at 08 on top at 16,000 feet, request lower altitude, estimating Lynchburg at 22." Accordingly the aircraft was cleared to descend to and maintain 11,000 feet. At 1724 Lynchburg radio received a position report from N1505V, "Over Lynchburg at 1722, at 11,000 feet, estimating Gordonsville at 38." The Lynchburg altimeter setting, 29.50 was given the flight and the flight's position report was relayed to Washington ARTC. A few ten later the following clearance was relayed to the flight, "ARTC clears N1505V to cross Remington at 11,000, cross Arcola range station at 10,000, maintain 10,000." The 1628 Baltimore and Washington weather was then given as: Baltimore, scattered clouds 1,000 feet, estimated ceiling 7,000 feet, overcast; visibility 3 miles; light rain and haze, temperature 61; dewpoint 61. Washington, ceiling measured 8,500 feet, overcast; visibility 10 miles; light rain; temperature 60; dewpoint 57; wind east-northeast 16; pressure falling rapidly. The flight acknowledged this message at 1727 and cancelled its IFR flight plan, This was the last o contact with the aircraft. Approximately 13 minutes later it crashed on the mountainside and burned. All five occupants have been killed.

As the aircraft became airborne the landing gear was retracted. Light rain was encountered at this time. When the air-craft had climbed to 200 to 250 feet, power was reduced to 35 inches of manifold pressure and a shallow right turn was begun. Before a reduction in r.p.m. was made the aircraft began to settle and the airspeed was observed to decrease rapidly from above 105 to 80 knots. The nose was immediately lowered to level flight, & the turn stopped, and full power applied. When this was done, the air-speed returned to about 100 knots and the settling appeared to lessen considerably. The increased airspeed with the attendant better flying characteristics was monetary, however, as the airspeed abruptly dropped to 60 knots and the airplane again began to settle. As the aircraft continued to settle and it became obvious that it was going to strike the ground, the first officer attempted to raise tile nose. Upon feeling the aircraft strike the ground, both throttles were closed. The aircraft then skidded to a stop in a wooded area approximately 600 feet north-west of the far end of runway 21. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were injured.

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. Eight crew members, all reservists, were killed.

The four engine aircraft left Atlanta Airport at 2027LT bound for Newark with an intermediate stop in Washington-National Airport. While flying on airway Green 6 at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew was informed by ATC that a landing in Washington was not possible due to poor weather conditions and that he should proceed direct to Newark. Two hours later, the crew received new instructions from ATC: as weather conditions improved in Washington, a landing was therefore possible. The crew modified his route and started the descent to the National Airport. Due to low visibility, the first attempt to land was abandoned and the crew completed a go around. On the second approach, while at a height of 200 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of a small hill, bounced, snatched two telephone poles and crashed in flames near Alexandria, about 6 miles southwest of the airport. Quickly on the scene, the rescue teams were able to evacuate all 26 occupants, some of them injured, while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Few minutes after takeoff from Richmond-Byrd Field Airport, while flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the crew informed ATC that an engine failed and obtained the permission to return to Richmond. In heavy rain falls and by night, the crew missed the airport and was forced to make a go around. Few seconds later, while trying to gain height, the aircraft went out of control and crashed 6 miles south of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 27 occupants were killed.

Crew was performing a flight from Fort Wayne to Atlanta-Candler Field. While descending, weather conditions worsened and ATC instructed the pilot to divert to Nashville. Captain modified his route to the northwest but informed ATC that his fuel reserve was limited. Few minutes later, he realized it would be difficult to localize the airport due to poor weather conditions and asked his crew to prepare to bail out. While flying in a low cloud layer, aircraft hit the ground with its left wing and crashed in an open field, killing all five occupants.

On final approach to Atlanta-Candler Field at night, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog and rain falls. Too low on final, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a pine forest located few km short of runway. Rescue teams arrived on the scene at 0630LT the following morning. Eight passengers seriously injured were evacuated to local hospitals while eight other occupants were killed, among them all three crew members.
Crew:
James A. Perry, pilot, †
Luther E. Thomas, pilot, †
Clarence Moore, steward. †
Passengers:
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker,
William D. Byron, † +11.

After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, the pilot retracted the landing gear when he felt several vibrations coming from the right engine. A fire erupted on the right engine and the crew decided to return to Montgomery. Because the situation deteriorated rapidly, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located near the airport. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before the right wing was partially torn off while contacting a tree. All occupants escaped uninjured, except the captain who was slightly burned. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Suffered an accident at Atlanta Airport. There were no casualties.

En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to abandon the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in a wheat field located in Stonewall, in the suburb of Atlanta. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were uninjured.