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hoover1060

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This is another event that changed me. I was 15 when this happened, and for a time afterward had nightmares about a crippled bird coming down in our neighborhood.
I kinda sorta saw this happen, not that I knew what I was witnessing, but was standing looking eastward between our house & garage when I saw this enormous fireball go up, followed shortly thereafter by a thunderous rumble that rattled windows up and down the street. Within minutes there were sirens and sirens as every firetruck in Elk Grove responded.
We were getting ready to head to my grandmothers for the long holiday weekend.
So today again as I do every May 25th, I remember those who were lost.
This accident gave the DC-10 a reputation it could enver quite outrun.

 
how awful

Jeff, Sorry you had to go through that. Being young and impressionable can really leave a memory that will last a lifetime. For me it was on Dec. 1, 1958 when 96 people died in the Our Lady of the Angels school fire in Chicago;I have never forgotten that and I was 95 miles away when it happaned. Gary
 
I Was Working Right There

I was at work at Citibank in Rosemont. We heard about the crash and then went to the West side of the building. All we saw was a long column of black smoke rising from the ground. Knowing there were over 200 people on that plane made me sick to my stomach. I'll never forget that sight.
 
clear memories

I remember seeing the fireball go up, and how the windows in the houses rattled a few seconds later. Distance from my parents house to the crash site is maybe 3 miles?
My dad was a few feet away loading the car for out trip to grandma's, his reaction was "I'll bet one of those oil storage tanks blew up" (There are BP oil storage tanks at the intersection of Touhy and Elmhurst roads, about 300 yards from the crash site)
We got in the car and headed for my grandmothers, the column of smoke still very visible. We turned on WGN radio and they reported a plane had crashed taking off from Ohare, that it was American Airlines, and that it was a CARGO plane. WGN had a reporter on the scene almost immediately, and he reported what American Airlines did not want out: It was not a cargo plane but a fully loaded passenger plane.
As we drove south and west to my grandmothers that afternoon, I could not get over how visible the smoke was from the crash site. At the intersection of Interstates 55 and 80(a good 40 miles or better from Ohare) that column was clearly visible.

The date is forever in my memory.
The upside is Flight 191 made the skies safer with stricter regulations for aircraft maintenance, and also changed things for the passengers families as far as treatment by the airlines and such.
Its been a long time, since I've had the dream, but for a while after this crash I would dream of the huge plane taking off and struggling to stay in the air, rolling and going nose first into the ground. All I could do is stand by and watch, like it was doing that just for me.
Thankfully time heals.
 
I understand what's that like Jeff. In the summer of 1968, I was eight years old and living in Compton Cal. I was at a park near my house and a helicopter leaving Los Angeles Airport heading to Disneyland was flying overhead and began making this loud noise. We looked up and the thing started spinning in circles, the rear rotor blade flew off, and it came crashing down exactly where we were playing. You can't explain the feeling seeing the thing coming right towards you. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a passenger. We ran into a liquor store just as it exploded killing everyone on board. Even today when I hear a jet, which is several times a day, as I live in the flight path to LAX, or a helicopter go by I cringe. I haven't let it deter me from flying, and have taken flights in helicopters and small aircraft to lessen my fear.

Erik

Page not found

www.ntsb.gov www.ntsb.gov
 
Tragic stuff. Fortunately I haven't witnessed anything like this happen (yet), but it must have been awful to see it for yourself. Even worse, just imagine what it would have been like for the families & friends of the passengers on board, even more so for the ones who would have waved them goodbye at the airport just before it crashing.

Stories like these just make you realise how grateful we should be for the gift of being allowed to live one more day, as the next could be the last for any of us!

Jon
 
Erkjoey....

IN the VERY early 60s, my dad used to take the LA Airways helicopter from Disneyland to LAX so that he could go to NCR's headquaters in Dayton, OH. I remember taking him there and watching the helicopter take off. It always made me sad when he left.

On another note, LA Airways had ANOTHER crash a few months previously and crashed into a field in Paramount, killing all 23 people on board.
 
Kevin, I read the accident report on the Paramount crash. It was basically the same type of accident due to improper maintenance. That crash was about three miles from our house, but at the time I don't recall hearing anything about it. I remember seeing the helicopters flying overhead as a child as that route was taken several times a day. I remember then thinking how huge they looked and how fun it would be to take a helicopter to Disneyland. I'm glad your Dad wasn't aboard those two doomed flights. The Compton crash had the CEO of the company's 16 or 18 year old Grandson on board. I remember at the time feeling more sad for all involved than traumatised for what I had witnessed. Enjoy each day for tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
 

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