CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

Washington

December 20, 1954

TO:

Messrs. Gurneys Denny, Ryan, Lee, Adams,

The Executive Director

FROM:

Director, Bureau of Safety Investigation

SUBJECT:

Aircraft Accident - Lockheed Lodestar,

N 711SE, near White Plains, New York,

December 18, 1954

Pilot Orvil R. Armstrong and Copilot-Mechanic Chester M. High, Jr., accompanied by an 18-year old passenger - Lillis Lamphier - departed Groton Airport, New London, Connecticut, at 12:05 p.m., December 18, for en IFR flight to Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York. Fuel aboard vies 644 gallons.

At 1:41 p. m. the flight reported to Westchester Tower that it was over the outer marker, inbound, at 2500 feet; approximately two minutes later it crashed between the outer and inner markers of the Westchester 115. The aircraft began clipping trees about 800 feet before it struck the ground on a 680-foot knoll located on the ILS approach path. The pilot and copilot were both H lied, and the aircraft was substantially damaged.

The passenger, who sustained only minor Injuries, stayed with the aircraft until approximately 4:30 p.m., then walked out and located help. She stated that she had flown quite a bit in this same airplane with the same crew and that the subject flight was the roughest she had ever encountered; that during the approach the weather was so “soupy” she could not see the numbers on the aircraft and that she heard the pilot say to the copilot, “Keep your eyes peeled.”

Weather conditions, as reported by Westchester County Airport operations personnel, were: ceiling 300 feet, visibility 1 mile.

The aircraft is owned and operated by Sangamo Electric Company, Springlfield, Illinois. The passenger is a daughter of the company's Executive Vice-President.

CAB Investigators MacNamara and Erickson of the Board's Washington office are at the scene.

W. K. Andrews