- ACCIDENT DETAILS
Date: February 03, 1959
Time: 2356
Location: La Guardia Airport, New York, NY
Operator: American Airlines
Flight #: 320
Route: Chicago - New York City
AC Type: Lockheed 188A Electra
Registration: N6101A
cn / ln: 1015
Aboard: 73   (passengers:68  crew:5)
Fatalities: 65   (passengers:63  crew:2)
Ground: 0
Summary: While attempting to land in rain and fog at La Guardia Airport, the aircraft descended below the minimum altitude and crashed into the East River. The aircraft struck the water while in shallow descent at 150 mph with its landing gear and flaps extended. Primarily the crash resulted from the failure of the crew to properly monitor essential instruments for determining attitude due to preoccupation with particular aspects of the aircraft and its environment. Limited experience of the crew with this particular type of aircraft. Erroneous setting of the captain's altimeter. Possibly misinterpretation of the altimeter and rate of descent indicator.
Sources

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