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AFFILIATED WITH THE                            
A.F. OF L.

"SCHEDULE WITH SAFETY"

AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL
3145 WEST SIXTY-THIRD STREET
CHICAGO 29
September 14, 1948

TELEPHONE 
GROVEHILL 2200

473 [[image]]

TO ALL ALPA CHAIRMEN AND OFFICERS 

Dear Member: 

The following is a brief preliminary description of the findings relating to the accident encountered to a Martin 202 operated by Northwest Airlines on August 29, 1948, near Winona, Minnesota. 

It is apparent from the distribution of the wreckage that the Martin 202 came apart in the air. The wing and tail were found approximately one mile from the main wreckage portion. Examination of the main wreckage portion showed (as much as investigation time permitted) that the entire right wing, both engines, complete left and right propellers, landing gear, front cabin door, emergency hatches and engine cowlings were accounted for. Examination of the short rear portion of the fuselage which included the entire tail group disclosed that all tail surfaces were present including trim tabs, in fact the tail group and rear end of the fuselage floated down slowly with relatively minor damage to some of the major components. After gathering and piecing together as much as was practical of the entire airplane, the left wing and a portion of the left center section was released and crated for shipment to the Bureau of Standards in Washington, D. C., for analysis.

On the same day that the accident occurred, another Martin 202 cracked a lower spar cap strip in flight; however, no accident occurred. Northwest Airlines then grounded the fleet of Martin planes. Further inspection of the grounded planes revealed another crack starting on a lower spar cap strip of one of the planes. Since a thunderstorm was in the area when the Martin 202 crashed, the possibility of turbulence accounting for the accident was considered a possible cause. However, the subsequent findings on the other Martin planes reveals that causes other than turbulence are to be considered.   

To date, no reports have been issued. This letter is to be considered preliminary and will be followed by a more detailed account either before the Civil Aeronautics Board hearing or after the hearing.

Sincerely yours,
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION  
Theo G. Linnert
Theo G. Linnert    
Engineering Department
tgl/ic