Incident Overview
On January 6, 1957, American Airlines Flight 327, a Convair CV-240-0, was on a scheduled flight from T. F. Green Airport near Providence, Rhode Island, to Tulsa Municipal Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with ten intermediate stops. While performing an instrument approach to Tulsa, the aircraft crashed.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions in the area were poor, with dense clouds and fog present. The aircraft descended through these conditions as it neared the airport.
Accident Sequence
As the aircraft approached the runway, it flew lower than the intended flight path and struck the ground 3.6 miles (5.8 km) north of the approach end of the runway. The crash resulted in one occupant being killed and seven others injured.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the crash was determined to be the captain's lack of alertness in allowing the first officer to continue an instrument descent to an altitude too low to permit terrain clearance.