March 20, 1969
New Orleans, Louisiana
Avion Airways
Douglas DC-3
N142D
Crashed while landing in fog. Failure of the crew to discontinue descent into conditions
below minima upon reaching the decision heightrashed on approach to Kanawha County
Airport in poor visibility. The aircraft was being operated under VFR when it entered a
shallow fog overlying the approach lights. Sixteen of 27 aboard killed.
N142D: Avion Airways
ATC: Air Traffic Control
| 06.35:33 | N142D | Uh, New Orleans approach, Douglas one forty two delta out of three point four to three thousand |
| ATC | Douglas one forty two delta New Orleans approach control maintain three thousand proceed direct to the ILS outer compass locator and uh weather is uh sky partially obscured, visibility one sixteenth, fog, and smoke, altimeter three zero zero zero, runway one zero, visual range less than six hundred feet. | |
| 06.36:18 | ATC | Did you get that one four two delta? |
| N142D | Uh roger four two delta we got it uh | |
| N142D | Uh approach one four two delta what'd you say you had on the RVR? | |
| ATC | Less then six hundred feet | |
| N142D | Uh roger, what's your minimums? Twenty four hundred? | |
| ATC | That's correct, category two is not authorized uh center line lights are inoperative uh not adequate | |
| 06.36:54 | N142D | Uh roger uh. |
| 06.37:29 | N142D | Uh approach uh one forty two delta we can see the ground out here uh do you think that's going to improve any shortly? |
| ATC | Since about uh two o'clock this morning it's been getting progressively worse and uh aircraft have been able to see the ground all night however the horizontal visibility is uh as depicted one sixteenth prevailing visibility and DA less than six hundred RVR. | |
| N142D | Uh roger uh will we be legal to make a pass and look at it? | |
| ATC | I can clear you for an approach uh yes uh you can make the low approach if you'd like | |
| 06.38:15 | N142D | Uh roger well if uh we can get contact with the ground uh will we be legal to land if that six hundred feet? |
| ATC | Four two delta according to the approach plates if you get the runway or approach lights in sight uh correction on that it says uh descent is not authorized well actually what it should say is that uh the approach plate is uh self explanatory if you can see the runway or approach lights affirmative you can land. | |
| 06.39:05 | N142D | Uh roger |
| 06.43:41 | N142D | Approach control Douglas one four two delta would you give us a vector for an ILS? |
| ATC | Douglas four two delta affirmative, what's your heading right now? | |
| N142D | Heading is one nine five. | |
| ATC | Douglas four two delta turn right heading two two zero descend and maintain two thousand | |
| N142D | You had any aircraft land? | |
| 06.43:51 | ATC | No sir |
| 06.44:00 | N142D | Are you high intensity strobe lights working? |
| ATC | Affirmative | |
| 06.46:47 | N142D | Approach control one forty two delta you want us to remain three thousand? |
| ATC | Four two delta negative descend and maintain two thousand | |
| N142D | Uh roger out of three for two | |
| 06.48:05 | N142D | Four two delta level two thousand |
| ATC | Four two delta say again | |
| N142D | Uh level at two thousand | |
| ATC | OK, turn left heading one seven zero | |
| N142D | Left to one seven zero roger | |
| 06.48:55 | ATC | Four two delta do you have your current uh approach plate with you ILS uh runway one zero? Thirteen February sixty nine? |
| N142D | Uh say again | |
| ATC | Do you have your approach plate with you? | |
| N142D | Affirmative | |
| ATC | OK turn left heading one three zero what are your intentions? | |
| N142D | Uh we'll make a low pass and see if we can pick up the lights | |
| ATC | Roger turn left heading one three zero proceed inbound on the localizer cleared for ILS approach | |
| 06.49:24 | N142D | Roger |
| 06.49:58 | ATC | Douglas four two delta three west of outer marker contact Moisant tower one one niner point niner |
| N142D | Roger | |
| 06.50:12 | N142D | Uh Moisant tower, Douglas one four eight one forty two delta |
| TWR | Douglas on ground uh say again | |
| N142D | One four two delta | |
| TWR | OK Douglas four two delta Moisant tower go ahead | |
| N142D | Uh roger we're approaching the outer marker we going to make a low pass see if we can pick up the lights | |
| 06.50:44 | TWR | Roger |
| 06.53:56 | N142D | Four two delta got the strobe lights in sight |
| TWR | Roger | |
| 06.55:46 | TWR | Four two delta tower |
| TWR | Douglas four two delta Moisant tower |