Toxicological examination of the flight crew showed no evidence of alcohol or elevated carbon monoxide levels. Information obtained by analyses, research utilizing laboratory produced electrical discharges and observations of natural lightning damage was utilized in determining where and how to make the detailed examination. Retired Elkton Police Chief Thomas McIntire met with a film documentary crew and Chris Knuth, the son of Pan Am 214s pilot, in 1994 to recall his memories of that night. Its certainly painful to relive some of it, but maybe its freeing at the same time, said Richard Sherman, who lost his father, Arnold, in the crash. Elkton Mayor Joe Fisona performs a wedding ceremony for Arnold and Allah Scolnik at the site of the Pan Am plane crash that killed Arnold's brother and sister-in-law in 1963. Multiple lightning-strike marks were found on the left wing tips. Pan Am flight 103 | Overview, Crash, Victims, & Facts On that night, Dec. 8, 1963, Flight 214, a Pan American Airways Boeing 707, was returning to the U.S. from from San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1 reserve tank prior to failure of the wing farther inboard. The loss of Bob, meant that my father, who was new to the business, had to pick up his uncles duties. The left outboard flap and spoiler skin were heavily sooted underneath caked mud. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Gilbert remembers his mother as jovial, with a good sense of humor. If the stepped leader of a stroke approaches a flying aircraft, the intense electric field induces streamers from the extremities of the aircraft out toward the approaching stroke. Flight 214 reported over the New Castle VOR at 2042, 5,000 feet and control was then transferred to Philadelphia Approach Control, which provided the crew with the following: " Philadelphia weather, now, seven hundred scattered, measured eight hundred broken, one thousand overcase, six miles (visibility) with rain shower, altimeter two nine four five, the surface wind is two hundred and eight degrees at twenty (knots) with gusts to thirty (knots). A magnetic strength survey[9] was made of the steel components of the left and right wings, center fuel tank, and the horizontal and vertical tail sections. The surge tank box[7] was intact except for a 2.2 inch opening along the top extending from spar to spar. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. A few small specks of fused material were found on the paint. Most. It was just a bunch of debris strewn over the area there, I dont recall any suitcases or anything like that. Your email address will not be published. Pan Am Flight 214 was a regularly scheduled flight from Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Philadelphia International Airport, with a scheduled stopover at Baltimore 's Friendship Airport. Twenty-three witnesses reported that the aircraft exploded after they had seen it ablaze. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Testing failed to demonstrate any hazard from induced voltages in the fuel quantity measuring system. The Cecil Whig and Cecil Democrat followed the story of Flight 214, publishing many photos of the recovery and Cecil County first responders. There was no evidence of any powerplant or system malfunction that could have caused the inflight explosion. This portion of the recording is not entirely clear, but this represents the best interpretation possible due to the quality of the tape. Numerous instances of in-flight fire were found on the recovered wreckage of the lift inboard wing aft of the rear spar, although most of the external skin remained unidentified. Aircraft Accident Report: Pan Am Flight 214. The flight crew of N709PA was properly certificated and qualified for this flight. We cannot record everything. Pan Am Flight 214 was a regularly scheduled flight from Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Philadelphia International Airport, with a scheduled stopover at Baltimore's Friendship Airport. [4] The controller told the pilots that the delay would last about 30minutes. I remember him bringing home the extra work. That November, the family had even been able to travel to Antigua for a short vacation. Aviation is inherently interesting because it involves almost a sublime and unexpected activity, he said. [3] The costs of the CAB's investigations rarely exceeded $10,000, but the agency would spend about $125,000 investigating this crash (equivalent to $1,100,000 in 2021), not including the money spent by Boeing, the FAA, Pratt & Whitney, and other aircraft-part suppliers during additional investigations. The discharge can also occur between oppositely charged regions within a cloud, or in different clouds. Here we go." Back home, there were husbands and wives, sons and daughters, sister and brothers and friends. The correlation of time, place and damage cannot be dismissed. 277 likes. Flammability is also affected by misting or foaming of the fuel. When Gilbert finally went to bed that night he remembers looking out his bedroom window and seeing neighbors silently standing in the front yard watching the house. Thus, the actual mechanics of ignition of the left reserve tank contents was not determined. At 45, Knuthhad 17,049 hours total flying. The group making this study concluded that while there are differences, the adoption of a single type of aviation turbine fuel by the entire industry would not significantly improve the overall excellent safety record of commercial aviation. On December 8, 1963, Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707-121 four-engine turbojet named Clipper Tradewind by Pan Am, took off from Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 4:10 p.m. EST, for a flight to Philadelphia with 73 passengers and 8 crew on board. The need for additional research is recognized and additional programming is planned. Then the wing of the plane rotated in the sky as it was falling. : Reporting rain and winds, Flight 214 is advised to hold outside New Castle, Del. The area where the plane crashed off Delancy Road is now the neighborhood of Turnquist, but was then only populated by a few farm houses. The need for additional research is recognized and additional programming is planned. Seventy-two witnesses said that the ball of fire occurred at the same time as, or immediately after, the lightning strike. Some years, the anniversary of his fathers death falls during Hanukkah. A granite memorial was dedicated at the crash site in 1994. Crewlist of the PanAm Passengerlist of the PamAm Survivors that later died. A [portion of] fuselage with about 8 or 10 window frames was about the only large recognizable piece I could see when I pulled up. On January 30 1974 Pan Am 806 landed short of Pago Pago airport. Mr Tanguay's letter suggested reducing the volatility of the fuel/air gas mixture by introducing an inert gas, or by using air circulation. The various types of sparking could also cause ignition without leaving identifiable evidence but might leave such evidence if the sparking energy is sufficiently high to produce visible pitting or fusion of metal surfaces. There was evidence of higher heat in this area and fused metal was found around the hole. Some speculation arose that metal fatigue as a result of the aircraft's 1959 incident could be a factor, but the aircraft had undergone four separate maintenance overhauls since the accident without any issues having been detected. [24], The CAB conducted a public hearing in Philadelphia in February 1964 as part of its investigation. Pan Am flight 103, also called Lockerbie bombing, flight of a passenger airliner operated by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, after a bomb was detonated. Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707-121 registered as N709PA, was en route from Baltimore to Philadelphia on December 8, 1963, when it crashed near Elkton, Maryland after being hit by lightning, killing all 81 on board. Onboard: 73 passengers and eight crew members. Stiffeners and access doors were bowed outward. On that night, Dec. 8, 1963, Flight 214, a Pan American Airways Boeing 707, was returning to the U.S. from from San Juan, Puerto Rico. [6] The pilots were able to transmit a final message: "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY. The lightning damage previously discussed was re-examined and confirmed. The apparent capricious nature of lightning is evidenced by the range of extremes as well as, in some cases, the unique nature of the damage that results. [10] The closest example of such an instance occurred near Milan, Italy in June 1959, when a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation crashed as a result of static electricity igniting fuel vapor emanating from the fuel vents. PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS, INCBOEING 707-121, N709PANEAR ELKTON, MARYLANDDECEMBER 8, 1963. Under the leadership of commercial aviation pioneer Juan Trippe, the . [1]:8, The recovery of the wreckage took place over a period of 12 days, and 16 truckloads of the debris were taken to Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC, for investigators to examine and reassemble. On this blog, you will find posts on the history of Cecil County, both old and modern, and the personal stories of the people, first and secondhand. Elkton's Fire Chief Edward Slaughter, center, captured in a photo the Monday after the crash. Able to drive his familys gray station wagon, Hicks, then only 13, drove remains from the crash site to the temporary Red Cross station and morgue set up at the armory. I found this article wanting to learn a little more about this disaster. 2 piloti pazudui bez vsts, Antonov An-12 cargo plane with Russian crew crash-landed in South Sudan, local media report, W katastrofie lotu S-Air 9607 pod Miskiem zgino 5 osb. The results were generally similar except that the readings on the aft end screws on the fuel tank access plate of the left wing were higher on N709PA than on the two tested aircraft this work was an attempt to delineate the path of the lightning-induced current through the wing structure. However, these alloys could not be identified since the chemical composition of the deposits did not conform to any alloy used in the airplane. The exterior of the wing fuel tank ram vent was moderately sooted inboard of the recess in the bottom skin. When relatives, friends and local witnesses gather in memory of the crash this weekend, members of the historical society will meet them privately to record their recollections. Special from the Cecil Whig. Gilbert, then 15, was watching Bonanza with his younger sister when the news broke there had been a plane crash. And in Elkton, an unusual winter thunderstorm rattled the small town with pouring rain, wind and flashes of lightning. There was a nurse, an employee of Campbell Soup, a furniture dealer, a real estate broker and several dentists. [28] The committee agreed to conduct both long-range and short-range studies of the impact of lightning on aircraft fuel systems, and potential measures to defeat such hazards. In a communitys history, there are lots of things that add to the heritage of that place. Thinking about the incident today, Shaffer questions whether it was easier for him to handle the situation than the older men in the fields, those who likely questioned what would happen to their families if they were killed in a horrific accident. An investigation by the Civil Aeronautics Board concluded that the cause of the crash was a lightning strike that had ignited fuel vapors in one of the aircraft's fuel tanks, causing an explosion that destroyed one of the wings. All pieces from there along this path to about 7,500 feet from the crater were very low in density, consisting of items such as Seat Occupied cards, cabin air conditioning insulation, fragments of thin skinned stringers, etc. Subscribe to this newsletter to have the latest obituaries delivered to your inbox twice weekly. [18]:34 The CAB launched an urgent research program in an attempt to identify conditions in which fuel vapors in the wings could have been ignited by lightning. The Historical Society expects hundreds to visit this weekend to pay their respects and record their memories. Because of high winds in the area, the crew chose to wait in a holding pattern with five other airplanes rather than attempt to land in Philadelphia. [16][17], The first officer was John R. Dale, 48, also of Long Island. The left side of the vertical tail and aft fuselage were extremely scorched by exposure to fire in flight. This entire sequence is accomplished in approximately one millisecond. [1]:5 Portions of the plane's right wing and fuselage, right main landing gear, horizontal and vertical tail surfaces, and two of the engines were found within 360 feet (110m) of the crater. First responders and investigators comb through the crash site to clean up the scene and recover victims remains. The damaged area extended from the trailing edge of the wing to a point about three feet eight inches from the leading edge, measured along the end rib. All persons aboard, 73 passengers and eight crew members, perished in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed. To view our latest e-Edition, click the image on the left. The higher readings were obtained where bondings had been broken. After the collision we dropped slightly, as though we had hit an air pocket. A photo of the Pan American Boeing 707-121 prior to the crash on Dec. 8, 1963. The difference in electrical potential between a cloud and the ground may be in the order of ten to one hundred million volts and discharge current may exceed 100,000 amperes with 10,000 amperes per micro-second[13] rate of current rise. This correlates with thunderstorm electrification theories that charge separation occurs about the freezing level. There were three groups of golfers, the alumni from Northeastern University who took a winter vacation every year, two honeymoon couples and a young woman bringing her infant son to meet his grandparents for the first time. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 1. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. By morning, gruesome details were visible in Elkton. The group further concluded that additional research into the nature and effect of lightning strikes and electro-static discharges is warranted and that more information is desirable regarding the phenomena of fuel spray, misting, and localized vapor-air mixtures in tanks under actual flight conditions. The exact manner of ignition was never determined, but the investigation yielded information about how lightning can damage aircraft, leading to new safety regulations. [1]:2[3], As the flight approached Philadelphia, the pilots made radio contact with air traffic control near Philadelphia at 8:42pm. [18]:36[28], The aircraft involved in the crash, N709PA, before being delivered to Pan Am, United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge, "Aircraft Accident Report: Pan American World Airways Inc Boeing 707-121, N709PA Near Elkton, Maryland December 8, 1963", "Pan Am system time table, December 1-31, 1963", "81 on Jet Killed in Flaming Crash Near Elkton, MD", "Plane Crew Witnessed, Told About Crash of Jet Airliner", "First Emergency Responder to Arrive on Scene of 1963 Plane Crash Recalls Tragic Night", "81 Killed as Phila.-Bound Jet Crashes in Storm Near Elkton", "50 years later, witnesses, families recall Flight 214 crash", "Key to Crash Mystery Found in Jet Debris", "2 in Tiny Plane Are Killed As It Rips Clipper in Flight", "Eyewitnesses Bear Out Supposition That Airliner Was Hit By Lightning", "Lessons Learned from Civil Aviation Accidents: Pan Am Flight 214 at Elkton, MarylandAccident overview", "Lessons Learned from Civil Aviation Accidents: Pan Am Flight 214 at Elkton, MarylandResulting Safety Initiatives", "Program for Investigation of Aircraft Lightning Protection Measures", Pan Am Flight 214 Accident Report Civil Aeronautics Board, A Pan American promotional film that features Clipper Tradewind (N709PA), A picture of the aircraft involved in the accident, Another photograph of the aircraft involved, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pan_Am_Flight_214&oldid=1134143929, In-flight explosion and break up caused by, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 05:42. The Knuth family at the family reunion in Iowa in August of 1963. At this stage the hijackers still believed a pilot would be found to fly the . The crew of flight 214 managed to transmit a final message "Mayday, mayday, mayday Clipper 214 out of control here we go" before it crashed near Elkton, Maryland. [14], The plane carried 73 passengers, who all died in the crash. [19] Other theories included sabotage or lightning, but by nightfall after the first day, investigators had not found evidence of either. In response to the CAB's findings, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered lightning discharge wicks (or static dischargers) to be installed on all commercial jets flying inside US airspace. pan am flight 214 passenger list - Fresh Fish 4u Knuth, later called a hero pilot, was being too modest. [28], Many aircraft-design improvements emerged as a result of the new guidelines and regulations. The pilot regained control of the aircraft and landed safely in London using the remaining three engines. George F. Knuth was an Iowa farm boy who originally wanted to be a science teacher, but then joined the military to fly planes. The aircraft crashed at 2059 in open country east of Elkton, Maryland. Another was due to a bomb, and another due to a failed landing attempt. Fuel temperatures were estimated to be 42F in the reserve tanks and 46F in the mains. However, there were two distinct wreckage paths and three concentrations in this area. Such spillage from the opened outer end of the No. For more difficult cases, Fisher and his team reconstructed faces as best possible using mannequins. The trooper was first to arrive at the crash site and later stated, "It wasnt a large fire. The tape showed an elapsed time of approximately 32 minutes and 50 seconds from lift-off at Baltimore until impact with the ground. Regards,Edwin Montilla. Analysis of these samples revealed no discrepancies. The flammability limits[11] of a mixture of Type A and Type B fall somewhere between the limits of either fuel examined separately. These records revealed no history of fuel leaks, lightning strikes, or static discharges. Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707-121 registered as N709PA, was en route from Baltimore to Philadelphia on December 8, 1963, when it crashed near Elkton, Maryland after being hit by lightning, killing all 81 on board. The pilot was able to maintain control only a few seconds after that and then the aircraft dove into the ground. These sources indicate that a lightning stroke begins when the air's resistance to the passage of electricity breaks down. [15] He had a total of 13,963 hours of flying time, of which 2,681 were in the Boeing 707. Later examination of the aircraft revealed evidence of lightning damage to the left wing tip an the empennage. Twenty-three witnesses observed an explosion in connection with the aircraft in flight after fire was observed. The paint had been discolored by heat and there was localized charring of the paint. Based in New York City, she frequently travels internationally for business. The flight was vectored for a visual approach to runway . Enter for the chance to win $5,000 in the Spring Home Makeover Sweepstakes! The detailed examination of surfaces, joints, rivets, screws, fittings, and fuel quality probes for physical evidence of ignition-producing sparks where ignitable fuel/air mixtures may normally be present disclosed no identifiable evidence of electrical arcing. You have permission to edit this article. At Baltimore a Pan American operations representative talked to the captain about the weather between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The recovered portions of the hydraulics and electrical systems showed no evidence of operational distress or pre-impact failure. [1]:1 Despite one of the most intensive research efforts in its history, the agency could not identify the exact mechanics of the fuel ignition, concluding that lightning had ignited vapors through an as-yet unknown pathway. [1]:2 It operated three times a week as the counterpart to Flight 213, which flew from Philadelphia to San Juan via Baltimore earlier the same day. Pan Am Flight 214 - Wikipedia However, on December 4, 1991 Pan Am stopped flying due to the big financial problems. These streamers can have sufficient energy to ignite fuel vapors. Weeks after the crash, Carol received two Christmas gifts that her father had purchased before the crash: a copy of Robinson Crusoe and 45-rpm records of folksinger Burl Ives, which he thought was popular music. A member of the local fire company, Scott raced to the firehouse, about a block away. Fingerprints, dental records and personal effects found nearby were the primary means of identification. A radio call signifying an aircraft in distress. 1 (left) reserve tank, causing an explosion that blew apart the outer portion of the jetliner's port wing. This disaster remains the deadliest in . [3][19] U.S. House Representative Samuel S. Stratton of Schenectady, New York, sent a telegram to the FAA urging them to restrict jet operations in turbulent weather, but the FAA responded that it saw no pattern that suggested the need for such restrictions, and Boeing concurred. Pan American Flight 214, a Boeing 707-121, N709PA, departed Friendship International Airport, Baltimore, Maryland, for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 2024 [1] December 8, 1963. Pan Am Flight 214 disaster Frank Sinatra Jr. kidnapped The readings ranged from light to moderate with occasional areas of heavy magnetism. This page is not available in other languages. The bodies of all persons aboard the aircraft were recovered and identified. The stepped leader advances toward the ground in a series of discrete branching movements, forming an ionized path down from the cloud. The high frequency (HF) radio antenna had separated from the vertical tail section and exhibited numerous tiny pock marks which were dull in appearance. Keep it Clean. Pan Am Flight 214 was a scheduled flight of Pan American World Airways from Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Friendship Airport in Baltimore and Philadelphia International Airport. He provided the captain with copies of the 1900 east coast weather sequence reports. Application of known lightning protection information as well as specific testing was applied during the design stages. When I finally went to sleep, I dreamed it wasnt true. However, witnesses, some particularly well qualified, observed a cloud to earth lightning discharge, described as being of exceptionally great magnitude, in the immediate location from which, moments later, the burning aircraft emerged. Even more than 60 years later, the cause of that crash remains a mystery. Thanks for the memories, Dear Edwin, I will speak for many by saying were sorry for your loss. See attachment No. Scientists said it was improbable for lightning to have caused the crash, Delawares News Journal reported. The Boeing 747 had only just landed in Karachi, Pakistan, when members of Palestine's Abu Nidal Organization rushed the plane, armed with explosive belts, grenades, and AK-47s. At first, he thought the glow was from a distant barn fire. I would share my and my familys actual experience of where we were at the time of the crash and what we went through thereafter. The worst part of the night was the constant realization that is was true, Carol said. Reflections on Yesterday Cecil County History. The recovered wing and tail components were laid out in their respective positions for study of fire damage and the left wing tip and outboard sections were examined for evidence of lightning damage. For more information on this blog click here. There was evidence of heat in the inlet of the ram air vent scoop. Despite those who had rushed to the scene with him, he needed more help. At 7:35 p.m. EST, Flight 214 made an intermediate stop at Baltimore's . Driving north on Route 213, Don Hash, then 25, was returning from a police call in Chesapeake City when he saw lightning in the shape of a wishbone, followed seconds later by the blast of a bright orange cloud and a falling airplane wing. This latter transmission was made by the first officer of National Airlines Flight 16 (NAL 16). Pan Am Flight 214 - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia The crew advised Philadelphia they would hold and were instructed to hold west of New Castle VOR on the 270 radial and given an expected approach clearance time of 2110. On December 8, 1963, Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707-121 four-engine turbojet named Clipper Tradewind by Pan Am, took off from Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 4:10 p.m. EST, for a flight to Philadelphia with 73 passengers and 8 crew on board. Very slight outward bulging of the tank end rib was noted. One effort in this regard was a review by the Coordinating Research Council of all available data concerning the relative safety of Type A and Type B jet fuels and mixtures thereof. It included the wreckage farthest from the main crater and consisted of nearly all the pieces of the left outer wing panel, notable exceptions being the inboard portions of the outer panel rear spar and aileron. From left to right, George F. Knuth, pilot of Flight 214, with Carol, wife Betty, Mary, Sara and son Chris in the front. [12] The state medical examiner needed nine days to complete identifications, using fingerprints, dental records, and nearby personal effects. Local residents became witnesses, reporting they saw lightning strike the plane and send an orange fireball to the ground. Members of the Airline Pilots Association then arrived in the middle of the night to guard the house against the press. The Committee was informed currently on the investigative results and, conversely, persons responsible for the investigation were advised as information evolved from the research activities to the mutual benefit of all responsible parties. The generation residing here in 1963 will never forget the unusual December thunderstorm and how the fiery blast in the stormy sky suddenly illuminated the town, momentarily turning December darkness into daylight.
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