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SA-177 File No. 1-0097
C I V I L A E R O N A U T I C S B O A R D
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT
Adopted: December 1, 1949 Released: December 2, 1949

COLONIAL AIRLINES, INC. - BURLINGTON, VERMONT, SEPTEMBER 20, 1948

The Accident

   A Douglas DC-3, NC 17335, operated by Colonial Airlines, Inc., as Flight 3, overshot the runway at Burlington Airport, Burlington, Vermont, at 1144*, September 20, 1948, and crashed into trees. The aircraft received major damage. Of the 14 passengers and 3 crew members, 1 passenger and the stewardess were slightly injured.

History of the Flight

   Flight 3 was scheduled between Montreal, Canada, and New York, New York, with an intermediate stop at Burlington, Vermont. It departed Montreal at 1112 and was cleared to Burlington by the Civil Aeronautics Air Route Traffic Control to proceed in accordance with visual flight rules. A message was received from the aircraft, by the Colonial radio at Burlington, indicating that it was over the Grand Isle Fan Marker, approximately 25 miles northwest of Burlington at 1135. Colonial radio acknowledged the report and transmitted the latest local weather: ceiling 800 feet, visibility 1 mile in heavy rain. This report was acknowledged. Nearing the airport, light rain was encountered. The flight asked Burlington Tower for its existing traffic, and being in the approach control area, further asked permission to make an approach from its present position. After checking with Boston Air Route Traffic Control, establishing that no traffic was in the area, the aircraft was cleared to approach VFR. The windshield 

*All times referred to herein are Eastern Standard and based on the 24-hour clock.