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An accident involving aircraft NC 15592 occurred at the Municipal Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 10, 1941, about 8:35 p.m. (EST)^[1] while the aircraft was operating in scheduled air carrier service between Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D. C., as Trip 20 of American Airlines, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "American"). The accident resulted in partial destruction of the aircraft and minor injuries to nine passsengers and three members of the crew. The Washington office of the Civil Aeronautics Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Board") was officially notified of the accident about 9:30. p.m. that evening.

Immediately after receiving this notification the Board initiated an investigation of the accident in accordance with the provisions of section 702(a)(2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended, (hereinafter referred to as the "Act". Accident investigators of the Board arrived at the Cincinnati Municipal Airport on the following day at about 11:00 a.m. In accordance with the instructions of the Board, the damaged airplane had been placed under guard and had not been disturbed except to the extent necessary to remove passengers, mail and cargo from the wreckage.

Upon arrival, the investigators of the Board had the aircraft ​removed to American's hangar, where a constant guard was maintained over the wreckage until the aircraft was released.

A thorough and complete examination was made of all parts of the aircraft, engine and propellers by representatives of the Board. At the termination of the hearing on March 20, 1941, the aircraft was released to American.

In connection with the investigation of the accident a public hearing was held at Cincinnati, Ohio, beginning March 18 and continuing through March 20, 1941. G. Grant Mason, Jr., one of the five members of the Board, was designated by the Board to preside at the hearing. He was assisted by Henry L. Knight, Attorney of the Board, who acted as Associate Examiner; Jerome Lederer, Director of the Safety Bureau of the Board; Frank E. Caldwell, Chief of the Investigation Division of the Safety Bureau; James H. Douglas, Assistant to the Chief of the Investigation Division of the Safety Bureau; Paul A. Gareau, Air Safety Specialist in Meteorology of the Safety Bureau; and William K. Andrews, Chief of the Investigation Section of the Safety Bureau.

All of the evidence available to the Board at the time was presented at the hearing. Testimony was given by 31 witnesses and a total of 38 exhibits were received in evidence. One letter and eight depositions of the nine passengers were read into the record at the hearing.

While the Examiners and the representative of the Safety ​Bureau were the only ones designated to ask questions directly of the witnesses, the Presiding Examiner, acting under instruction of the Board, announced at the opening of the hearing that any person who had any evidence, questions or suggestions to present for consideration in the proceeding might submit them to the Examiner. In accordance with this suggestion, 21 written questions were so submitted and each one was propounded and answered during the hearing.

Upon the basis of all the evidence accumulated in the investigation the Board now makes its report in accordance with the provisions of the act.

American, a Delaware corporation, was operating at the time of the accident as an air carrier under a currently effective certificate of public convenience and necessity and a currently effective air carrier operating certificate, both of which had been theretofore issued to it pursuant to the Act. Trip 21 was being conducted pursuant to authority contained in American's certificate of public convenience and necessity for Route No. 25 by which it is authorized to engage in air transportation of persons, property and mail between the terminal point Washington, D. C., the intermediate points Elkins, West Virginia; Clarksburg, West Virginia; Parkersburg, West Virginia; ​Charleston-Dunbar, West Virginia; Huntington, West Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Indianapolis, Indiana; and the terminal point Chicago, Illinois.

On the flight in question the crew consisted of Captain Lester W. Bryant, First Officer James G. Murray and Flight Stewardess Audrey Marquiss.