Summary
National Airlines Flight 83 was a United States domestic flight from Newark International Airport, serving New York City, to Philadelphia. On January 14, 1951, the Douglas DC-4 of National Airlines crashed on landing at Philadelphia International Airport. The aircraft over-shot the runway, ran into a ditch and caught fire. Of the 28 people on board, 7 were killed and 11 injured. One of the dead was the lone flight attendant, Frankie Housley, who had gone back into the burning aircraft to try to save more passengers.
 A DC-4 similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 January 1951 |
| Summary | Over-shoot on icy runway, resulting in a fire |
| Site | Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. 39°52′20.17″N 75°14′14.89″W / 39.8722694°N 75.2374694°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Douglas DC-4 |
| Operator | National Airlines |
| Registration | N74685 |
| Flight origin | Newark International Airport (EWR/KEWR) |
| Destination | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL/KPHL) |
| Passengers | 25 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Injuries | 11 |
| Survivors | 21 |
Crash edit
On arrival at Philadelphia International Airport, the pilots tried to land the aircraft too far down the runway, instead of aborting the approach.[1] The runway was icy; the aircraft over-shot, running through a fence and into a ditch. The left wing broke off, rupturing the gasoline tanks, and the airplane caught fire. Of 28 people on board, including 3 crew, 7 were killed, including two infants and the one flight attendant on board.[2]
Frankie Housley edit
Mary Frances "Frankie" Housley was the lone flight attendant on the flight.[2][3] She opened the emergency door and saw the ground eight feet below. Returning to the cabin, she helped passengers release their seat belts, guided them to the door and gave a gentle shove to those who were hesitant to jump. After seeing 10 people to safety, she returned to the cabin to try to rescue a baby. After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of five women and two infants were found, including Housley with a four-month-old infant in her arms.[2][4]
References edit
- ^ "Accident report of National Airlines Flight 83". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Stu Bykofsky (August 12, 2013). "Philadelphia's forgotten airline heroine needs a better memorial". Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ J.C. (Jim) Tumblin. "Fountain Citians Who Made A Difference". Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
- ^ "Take Your Time". Time. January 22, 1951. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
External links edit
- Report - Civil Aeronautics Board - PDF