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N0KFQ > TODAY 25.05.11 18:39l 41 Lines 1694 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8199_KB0WSA
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Subj: Today in History - May 25
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<ON0AR<HS1LMV<7M3TJZ<JE7YGF<F6CDD<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 110525/1631Z 8199@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.0.4
May 25, 1979:
DC-10 crashes, killing all aboard
Almost 300 people are killed on this day in 1979 when an American
Airlines flight crashes and explodes after losing one engine just
after takeoff.
It was the beginning of Memorial Day weekend in 1979 when 277
passengers filled Flight 191 from Chicago's O'Hare Airport bound
for Los Angeles. The DC-10 jet took off normally but after rising
to only 400 feet, stalled and then rolled to the left. The plane
quickly plunged, crashing into Ravenswood Airport, which had been
abandoned and was no longer in use.
The plane, loaded with fuel, exploded on impact, killing all 277
people on board instantly. The heat from the fire was so intense
that firefighters could not approach the crash for close to an
hour. The crash also caused a fire at a nearby mobile-home park
and killed two bystanders on the ground. A Standard Oil gas
storage facility was also nearly hit.
Following this crash, all DC-10s in the United States were
impounded and grounded by judicial order because there was no
immediate determination as to the cause of the crash and it was
feared that it could have been caused by a problem common to the
jet type. Ultimately, it was found that the left pylon, which
supported the turbofan engine, came loose and took out the
hydraulic lines. The left wing slats then retracted and the plane
could not lift off properly. The American Airlines maintenance
crew was found to be at fault--they had failed to follow the
proper procedures when removing the engine and pylon during
repairs and maintenance.
73, K.O. n0kfq
Another old retired guy
N0KFQ@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: n0kfq@centurytel.net
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