National Airlines Flight 83 Overrun Accident (N74685)

Flight Details and Departure Delay National Airlines Flight 83 departed Newark, New Jersey, at 1333 on January 14, 1951, bound for Norfolk, Virginia, with a scheduled stop at Philadelphia. The crew consisted of Captain Howell C. Barwick, Copilot Edward J. Zatarain, and Stewardess Mary Frances Housley. The aircraft’s total weight at takeoff was 58,601 pounds, within the allowable gross takeoff weight of 64,211 pounds, and the load was properly distributed. The flight was originally scheduled to leave Newark at 1300 but was delayed 33 minutes due to the replacement of a malfunctioning generator. The company flight clearance was filed at 1215 for the scheduled departure and was also used for the delayed departure. Attached to the clearance was weather information for the flight, including a notice that the ILS glide path at Philadelphia was inoperative until further notice. Immediately before takeoff, the pilot requested and received the latest Philadelphia weather from the tower, reported on the 1328 CAA teletype sequence report and received at Newark after the pilot boarded the aircraft. The report indicated a ceiling of 1,000 feet, overcast, wind south-southwest at four miles per hour, visibility 1 1/2 miles, with light snow and smoke.