I.
CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATION
An accident involving aircraft NC 25663, while operating in scheduled air carrier service as Flight 1 of American Airlines, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "American"), occurred in the vicinity of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, on October 30, 1941, at approximately 10:10 p.m. (EST)[1] resulting in destruction of the airplane and fatal injuries to the crew of 3 and the 17 passengers on board.
The Washington office of the Civil Aeronautics Board (hereafter referred to as the "Board") was officially notified of the accident about 12:30 a.m. Immediately after receiving the notification, the Board initiated an investigation of the accident in accordance with the provisions of Section 702 (a) (2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended. As the accident, although it involved aircraft of United States registry, occurred in the Dominion of Canada while the aircraft was being operated between the intermediate points of Buffalo, New York, and Detroit, Michigan, the Civil Aeronautics Board sought and was granted permission by the Canadian Government to participate in the investigation at the scene of the accident. Personnel of the Board were sent immediately to the scene of the accident, the first of the investigators arriving there about 5:25 a.m.
Throughout all phases of the investigation, the Canadian authorities extended every courtesy. The closest cooperation existed between the investigating bodies of the Canadian and American Governments, with the result that all evidence, exhibits, etc. were freely and mutually interchanged.
Provincial police of the Province of Ontario and members of the Royal Canadian Air Force arrived at the scene within 20 minutes of the time of the accident and immediately established a guard around the wreckage. They maintained constant guard until the arrival of inspectors of the Civil Aviation Branch, Department of Transport, Dominion of Canada,[2] and the Board's investigators. Thereafter, members of the Royal Canadian Air Force remained on duty until the wreckage had been carefully examined by the representatives of the Canadian Government and of the Board and the condition of all parts of the airplane had been ascertained.
The engines and propellers were removed from the scene of the accident to the Technical Training School, Royal Canadian Air Force, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, in order that they might be inspected more thoroughly. During the transportation of this equipment, it was under constant guard of an inspector of the Civil Aviation Branch. Certain other parts of the aircraft and its equipment were sent back to the United States for analyses and tests. Some of these parts were transported personally by an investigator of the Board and the remained were shipped under seal. The examination of the wreckage and disassembly of the engines and propellers were under the direct supervision of an inspector of the Civil Aviation Branch and an investigator of the Board. All tests subsequently conducted in the United States also were personally supervised by an investigator of the Board.
After the inspection of all parts of the aircraft (excepting those obtained for tests) was completed by the Board and the Canadian officials, the aircraft was released to America on November 5, 1941.
