Allegheny Airlines Flight 371 Crash (N174A)

Flight Details and Departure On December 1, 1959, Allegheny Airlines Flight 371 operated a scheduled service between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland, Ohio, with intermediate stops at Harrisburg, Williamsport, Bradford, and Erie. The flight originated at Philadelphia after arriving from Atlantic City as Ferry Flight 174. Although dispatched under instrument flight rules (IFR), the captain elected to depart under visual flight rules (VFR) due to favorable en route weather. The aircraft departed Philadelphia at 0815 with 17 revenue passengers and a gross weight of 36,477 pounds, which was 2,083 pounds below the allowable takeoff weight for a landing at Harrisburg. The flight landed at Harrisburg at 0851 without incident, deplaning four passengers and 404 pounds of cargo. It departed Harrisburg at 0906 with 22 revenue passengers, one additional crew member, and 598 pounds of baggage, mail, and cargo. The gross weight at takeoff was 36,429 pounds, 2,081 pounds below the allowable takeoff weight for a landing at Williamsport. ## Approach and Loss of Contact At 0923, Flight 371 reported to Williamsport radio that it was making 360-degree turns five miles south of the Williamsport low frequency range at 3,500 feet and requested an instrument clearance. The weather at Williamsport at 0917 was reported as a precipitation ceiling of 1,000 feet, sky obscured, visibility one mile in light snow, wind west at five knots, and altimeter 30.26. At 0927, the flight was cleared direct to the Williamsport low frequency range to maintain 4,000 feet. At 0933, it was cleared for an approach to Williamsport Airport. The Allegheny minimums for this approach were a 900-foot ceiling and 1-1/2 miles visibility. At 0941, the flight reported over the low frequency range on final approach. At approximately 0945, the aircraft was observed over the airport, too high to effect a landing. It then flew over the field and made a right turn for a circling approach to runway 27. As the circle was apparently completed, the aircraft rolled out of its right turn and into a left turn, proceeding in level flight on a southerly direction before disappearing into snow showers and clouds. One observer estimated the aircraft was approximately one-fourth of a mile from the end of runway 27 and at an altitude of approximately 400 feet above the ground when it commenced the left turn. A loud explosive-type noise was heard at approximately 0947. ## Wreckage and Casualties After all attempts to contact the flight failed, search and rescue was advised of a possible crash. At approximately 1120, the wreckage was sighted on Bald Eagle Mountain at an elevation of 1,150 feet above mean sea level, on a 172-degree magnetic heading from and about one and one-third miles south of the approach end of runway 27. The crew of three, one additional crew member, and 21 of the 22 revenue passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.