Narrative:
American Airlines Trip 20 departed Chicago Municipal Airport, IL on a flight to Washington, DC. The first intermediate stop was Cincinnati Municipal Airport, OH.
An unexpected acceleration of a low pressure system resulted in the arrival of a storm front at Cincinnati coincidentally with the arrival of Trip 20 with resulting turbulence below 3000 feet, violent rain squalls and a ceiling of 1300 feet.
When attempting to land on runway 6, the airplane ballooned after entering a sudden squall. The captain continued the landing and the aircraft contacted the ground to the left of the runway and rolled into a levee.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
The error in judgment on the part of the pilot in continuing an attempt to land during a period of restricted visibility from the cockpit due to heavy precipitation. A substantial factor, increasing the pilots difficulties and the liability of error in judgment, was the inadequacy of the system of runway lighting on Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Runway excursion
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 10 March 1941 |
| Time: | 20:35 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3-277C |
| Operator: | American Airlines |
| Registration: | NC15592 |
| MSN: | 2248 |
| First flight: | 1940 |
| Engines: | 2 Wright R-1820-G102 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 12 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Cincinnati Municipal Airport, OH (LUK) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Chicago Municipal Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW), United States of America |
| Cincinnati Municipal Airport, OH (LUK/KLUK), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | AA20 |
American Airlines Trip 20 departed Chicago Municipal Airport, IL on a flight to Washington, DC. The first intermediate stop was Cincinnati Municipal Airport, OH.
An unexpected acceleration of a low pressure system resulted in the arrival of a storm front at Cincinnati coincidentally with the arrival of Trip 20 with resulting turbulence below 3000 feet, violent rain squalls and a ceiling of 1300 feet.
When attempting to land on runway 6, the airplane ballooned after entering a sudden squall. The captain continued the landing and the aircraft contacted the ground to the left of the runway and rolled into a levee.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
The error in judgment on the part of the pilot in continuing an attempt to land during a period of restricted visibility from the cockpit due to heavy precipitation. A substantial factor, increasing the pilots difficulties and the liability of error in judgment, was the inadequacy of the system of runway lighting on Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Runway excursion
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Chicago Municipal Airport, IL to Cincinnati Municipal Airport, OH as the crow flies is 408 km (255 miles).
Distance from Chicago Municipal Airport, IL to Cincinnati Municipal Airport, OH as the crow flies is 408 km (255 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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